Former U.S. Sen. Doug Jones files paperwork to run for Alabama governor
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Former U.S. Senator Doug Jones, 2017 election A renewed hope for Alabama Democrats on Monday filed campaign paperwork to run for governor of Alabama in 2026.
Documents were filed with the State Department and a major campaign committee was formed for Jones to run for governor as a Democrat. Jones’ bid for governor could lead to a rematch with Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville. beat Jones In 2020 and right now candidate for governor.
His entry into the race follows weeks of speculation and teasing about a possible run as Jones worked to promote Democrats in the Deep South state.
“Stay tuned,” Jones said at the Blueprint event in Alabama when asked if he would enter the governor’s race. “One way or another, I’m going to stay in the fight,” Jones told the Associated Press this spring.
Jones, a lawyer and former U.S. attorney known for prosecuting two Ku Klux Klan members responsible for Birmingham’s infamous 1963 church bombing, was elected to the Senate in 2017. He defeated Republican Roy Moore, who was scarred by sexual harassment allegations, in a special election to fill the Senate seat previously held by Jeff Sessions. Three years later, Jones lost to Tuberville, the former football coach who is backed by President Donald Trump.
Republicans have been locked in the Alabama governor’s office for more than 20 years. Former Governor Don Siegelman was the last Democrat to hold the office, but lost by a razor-thin margin to Bob Riley in 2002.
Kevin Donohoe, a spokesman for the Democratic Governors Association, said Democrats have won in other tough states like Kentucky, Kansas and North Carolina, and there is an opportunity in Alabama.
“Alabama families are suffering as health care costs rise, schools fail, and there aren’t enough good-paying jobs — but Tommy Tuberville would make things worse. Alabama deserves new leadership that will get results, and there is an opportunity for a Democrat who is a good fit for the state to make this race competitive,” Donohoe said.
