Alabama Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville is set to face off against former Democratic Sen. Doug Jones in this fall’s gubernatorial election, after ABC News projects both men will cruise to victory in their respective party primaries.
Heading into the GOP primary, Tuberville, who entered politics after a successful career as a head football coach at Auburn and elsewhere, was viewed as the front-runner in the race. Tuberville has been a staunch supporter of President Donald Trump.
On the Democratic side, Jones, who served in the Senate from 2018 to 2021, faced several other Democratic challengers.
In addition to governor, Alabama voters went to the polls on Tuesday, casting ballots in the primary races for Senate and some congressional representatives.
State significance
With Tuberville running for governor in the state, his Senate seat is open. The race is not expected to be competitive between Republicans and Democrats, and the seat is expected to remain in GOP hands.
Trump carried the state by 30 points in 2024.
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, Rep. Barry Moore and former Navy SEAL Jared Hudson are running in the GOP Senate primary.
Marshall was first appointed attorney general in 2017 by then-Gov. Robert Bentley and won a full term in 2018 and was reelected in 2022. During his tenure, Marshall joined other Republican-led states in filing lawsuits against several Biden administration policies.
Sen. Tommy Tuberville speaks to repoters during votes in the U.S. Capitol, October 23, 2025.
Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images
Moore is the only member of Alabama’s delegation to belong to the House Freedom Caucus. In 2021, Moore voted to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, which were won by then-Democratic nominee Joe Biden.
But one of the biggest political stories in Alabama is the impact redistricting will have on the makeup of the state’s congressional delegation.
Alabama State Capitol in Montgomery.
Adobe Stock
The Supreme Court’s recent ruling on it opened the door for Alabama to eliminate at least one of its majority-Black congressional districts before this year’s midterm elections.
Now, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey has set new special primary elections for the affected congressional districts: the 1st, 2nd, 6th and 7th and confirmed that Alabama will be using its previously blocked 2023 congressional map. Ivey set the special primary election for Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026.
The primary races for the other seats, including Alabama’s other House seats, on Alabama’s May 19 ballot are not affected.
