The Democrat is set for a rematch against GOP Sen. Tommy Tuberville.
Former Democratic Sen. Doug Jones filed paperwork to run for governor of Alabama on Monday, setting up a high-profile race against Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville.
Jones, a former U.S. Attorney, was elected to fill out the remainder of former GOP Sen. Jeff Sessions’ term in a 2017 special election after Sessions resigned his seat to serve as attorney general in the first Trump administration.
“What I know and what we have heard all along is that Alabama wants their next governor to be someone who lives here, who works here, who listens to the people of this state, who understands the people of this state,” Jones said in a video posted to social media. “And Alabama wants their next governor to be someone who treats this state with grace and dignity and not just like a rest stop on the way to the Florida beach.”
His entry into the race sets up a rematch between Jones and Tuberville, who defeated him in the 2020 Senate election.
Tuberville, a former football coach at Auburn University, ran an aggressively pro-Trump campaign in 2020. In his gubernatorial campaign launch, Tuberville leaned into his close ties to the president, telling Fox News that “President Trump was a guy that really was behind me during the Senate race, he’s been behind me ever since.”
“Last time Doug Jones ran against Coach Tuberville, it didn’t go well for Doug,” said Mallory Jaspers, the Tuberville campaign’s communications director. “Coach has spent the past six months building coalitions across the state, securing endorsements from every key player in Alabama politics, and shattering fundraising records. This race is already over — but if Comrade Doug wants to get blown out again, be our guest.”
Jones is looking to succeed Republican Gov. Kay Ivey, who is term-limited, potentially making him the first Democratic governor of Alabama since 2003. Despite the state’s deep-red voting history, Democrats are hopeful that Alabama could provide a prime pickup opportunity in a year with three dozen gubernatorial races.
“We’ve won in tough states like Kentucky, Kansas and North Carolina in recent years and are watching Alabama closely,” said Kevin Donohoe, a spokesperson for the Democratic Governors Association.
Jones will compete in the Democratic primary against Democrats Chad “Chig” Martin, who owns a hemp business, and pastor Will Boyd, who has unsuccessfully sought office in Alabama several times.
In a statement, Martin urged Democratic, Republican and independent voters to “support someone with the enthusiasm and intention to unite the state.”
“Alabama Democrats will have to decide if they want to continue repeating the same thing over and over with likely similar results, or let a younger and more innovative candidate stand toe to toe with Tuberville and create new energy within the base,” he said.
Elizabeth Callaghan, a spokesperson for the Boyd campaign, said in a statement that “nothing has changed, or will change, for our campaign” and that Boyd remains “committed to building a better Alabama for all.”