Alabama Democrats say they’ll challenge U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s residency

FILE – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (Stefani Reynolds/Pool via AP)

The head of the Alabama Democratic Party says he will challenge U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s state residency as Tuberville runs for governor.

Tuberville announced today in Auburn that he will run for governor in 2026. Action 8 News was there as he made the announcement on Fox News Channel from Byron’s Smokehouse restaurant.

Chairman Randy Kelley of the Alabama Democratic Party released a statement about Tuberville’s announcement, saying in part:

“Today, Tommy Tuberville finally revealed the open secret that he is planning to run for  governor of Alabama despite not living here. His primary residence is in Florida. Alabama’s Constitution Section 117 clearly states that gubernatorial candidates must  be “resident citizens of the state at least seven years before the date of their election.   

“Claiming his son’s house as a homestead exemption while all travel receipts, voting and living take place in Florida simply doesn’t cut it. We intend to challenge his residency in the courts.” 

The Associated Press reports that property tax records show Tuberville owns a $270,000 home in Auburn, where he claims a homestead exemption, and a $4 million beach home in Walton County, Florida.

The AP says voting records show that Tuberville switched his voter registration from Florida to Alabama in 2019. He and his wife last voted in Florida on Nov. 6, 2018.

Tuberville said he meets the residency requirements.

“They’ve been bringing that up. It won’t be a problem. A lot of other people have houses down there (Florida), but this is my home,” he said of Auburn.

Action 8 News Political Analyst Steve Flowers says it will be tough for anyone to mount a challenge to Tuberville in next year’s elections.

(Copyright 2025 The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)