Political Analyst Steve Flowers: U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville favorite to win governor’s race
Action 8 Political Analyst Steve Flowers says with key political figures deciding not to run for governor next year, U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville is in a prime spot to win Alabama’s top job.
Both Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth and Attorney General Steve Marshall say they will not run for the Republican nomination for governor. Both were considered strong contenders for the office. Neither of them can run again for their current office due to term limits.
Flowers says that makes the governor’s seat Tuberville’s for the taking. He says he expects Tuberville to announce his candidacy just after Memorial Day.
“His polling numbers look extremely good,” Flowers told Action 8 News by phone from Birmingham. “He seems anxious to be governor.
“In most states it is a step down, being a governor is a stepping stone to being a U.S. senator in a lot of states. But historically, Alabamians have loved the governor’s race and he seems to have adopted Alabama as his home state.
“I think he and Trump are very close and he thinks he can have the same effect and have the same policy decisions, in my conversations with him. I asked him that question and he says ‘We’re going to make some radical changes in state government if I’m governor.'”
If Tuberville were to run — and win — that would open up his seat in the U.S. Senate.
A Democrat hasn’t won the Alabama governor’s race since Don Siegelman in 1998. Tuberville or any other Republican who wins the party primary would be the favorite to win the general election.
Alabama’s primaries are May 19, 2026, just about a year away. Flowers expects a lot of candidates to make announcements and start raising money soon.
