2026 Alabama Governor Election
Compare candidates’ positions, polling, and sourced race updates.
About this race
The 2026 Alabama gubernatorial election is an open-seat race to succeed term-limited Republican Governor Kay Ivey, with Republican U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville facing Democratic former U.S. Senator Doug Jones in a rematch of their 2020 Senate contest, which Tuberville won by more than 20 points. Alabama has not elected a Democratic governor since 1998, and Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, and Sabato's Crystal Ball all rate the race as safe or solid Republican.
Tuberville campaigns with President Trump's endorsement and holds a large cash-on-hand advantage, while Jones has emphasized bipartisanship, Medicaid expansion, and lowering costs and has recently outraised Tuberville. A July 2026 poll by the Yes, Every Kid Foundation, an education advocacy group, showed Tuberville leading 49% to 41% among likely voters, and independent write-in candidate Ronald Burnette Jr. is also running.
Candidates
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Doug Jones is the Democratic nominee for Governor of Alabama in 2026. He served as a U.S. Senator from Alabama from 2018 to 2021, notably winning a special election in 2017. Prior to his Senate term, he was a federal prosecutor and gained national recognition for prosecuting the 1963 16th Street Baptist Church bombing case. He won the Democratic primary on May 19, 2026.
Tommy Tuberville is the Republican nominee for Governor of Alabama in 2026. He has served as a U.S. Senator from Alabama since 2021 and previously had a long career as a college football coach, notably at Auburn University. He won the Republican primary on May 19, 2026, securing his party's nomination for governor, and campaigns with President Trump's endorsement.
Ronald Burnette Jr. is an independent write-in candidate for Governor of Alabama in the November 3, 2026 general election. Born in Elizabethtown, North Carolina, in 1971 and raised in Winston-Salem, he earned a high school diploma from Parkland High School, attended Troy State University, and has worked as an artist and plumber. His campaign emphasizes diversifying Alabama's economy beyond tourism and entertainment, making the state more tax-friendly, and expanding education, technology, and workforce-development industries.
Forecast
Tommy Tuberville favored
Tommy Tuberville: 93% modeled win probability with a +15.0 pts estimated margin
Polling
1 poll, newest firstAbout this research
Data compiled from public sources and analyzed using AI. Last updated October 8, 2026. Visit candidate websites for the most current information.