2026 Alabama gubernatorial election
The 2026 Alabama gubernatorial election is scheduled to take place on November 3, 2026, to elect the next governor of Alabama. The primary elections will take place on May 19, and in races where no candidate receives over 50% in a primary, runoff elections will take place on June 16. Incumbent Governor Kay Ivey is term-limited and ineligible to seek a third consecutive full term.
This election will take place alongside races for U.S. Senate, U.S. House, state senate, state house, and numerous other state and local offices. Democrats have not won a gubernatorial election in Alabama since 1998.
Republican primary
The Constitution of Alabama requires that a candidate for governor have been a resident citizen of the state for at least seven years immediately preceding the date of the election, as provided in Article V, Section 117.On January 27, 2026, after the filing deadline for the Republican primary had passed, Republican gubernatorial candidate Ken McFeeters submitted a formal challenge to the Alabama Republican Party alleging that U.S. Senator and fellow gubernatorial candidate Tommy Tuberville does not satisfy the state's residency requirement. McFeeters claimed in his petition that, despite Tuberville owning a home in Auburn, Alabama, he primarily resides at his multimillion-dollar beach house in Walton County, Florida.
A spokesperson for Tuberville described the challenge as "a ridiculous PR stunt from a desperate candidate." Tuberville himself dismissed the allegation, stating, "What a joke. I guess they think, you know, I hadn't done my homework."
The Alabama Republican Party confirmed that its 21-member steering committee will review the challenge, potentially holding a hearing at which both parties may present evidence. The party must certify its list of primary candidates to the Secretary of State of Alabama by February 26, 2026. It rejected the challenge against Tuberville on February 2.
Candidates
Declared
- Ken McFeeters, insurance agent and candidate for Alabama's 6th congressional district in 2024
- Will Santivasci
- Tommy Tuberville, U.S. senator
Declined
- Will Ainsworth, Lieutenant Governor of Alabama '
- Lynda Blanchard, former U.S. Ambassador to Slovenia and candidate for governor in 2022 '
- Mo Brooks, former U.S. Representative from
- Steve Marshall, Alabama Attorney General
- Rick Pate, commissioner of the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries ''''
Polling
;Will Ainsworth vs. Rick Pate| Poll source | Date administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Will Ainsworth | Rick Pate | Undecided |
| Remington Research Group | December 2024 | – | – | 34% | 5% | 61% |
Democratic primary
Candidates
Declared
- Will Boyd, former Greenville, Illinois city councilor and perennial candidate
- Ja'Mel Brown, online pastor
- Yolanda Flowers, educator and nominee for governor in 2022
- Doug Jones, former U.S. senator
- Chad Chig Martin, hemp business owner and candidate for governor in 2022
- Nate Mathis, former state representative from the 87th district and perennial candidate
Independent and third-party candidates
Declared
- Ronald Burnette Jr.
General election
Polling
;Tommy Tuberville vs. Doug Jones| Poll source | Date administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Tommy Tuberville | Doug Jones | Undecided |
| Cygnal | November 12–13, 2025 | 605 | ± 4.0% | 53% | 34% | 13% |