Sen. Tommy Tuberville secured the Republican nomination for Alabama governor Tuesday night, defeating two challengers in the GOP primary as he seeks to replace term-limited Republican Gov. Kay Ivey, as reported [1] by Breitbart.
Several outlets, including the Associated Press, called the race for Tuberville on Tuesday night with only a fraction of the vote counted. At the time the race was called, Tuberville had received 79 percent of the vote.
Tuberville, a former college football coach and current U.S. senator, entered the race with the backing of President Trump, who endorsed him in January.
U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville has won the Republican nomination for governor in Alabama. https://t.co/KNc58PROvc [2] pic.twitter.com/eedc24Q1iV [3]
— The Associated Press (@AP) May 20, 2026 [4]
The endorsement gave Tuberville a major boost in a state where Trump has remained highly popular among Republican voters.
Trump praised Tuberville in a Truth Social post when he announced his support for the Alabama gubernatorial bid.
“Highly Respected Senator, ‘Coach’ Tommy Tuberville, is running for Governor of Alabama, a place I love and WON BIG six times, including Primaries, in 2016, 2020, and 2024!” Trump wrote.
“A former SEC Championship-winning College Football Coach, and now, as a Highly Respected U.S. Senator, Tommy has proven he has the Courage and Wisdom to deliver strong results for the incredible people of his wonderful State and Nation. He is a Lifelong Leader, both on and off the field — A true WINNER!” Trump continued.
BREAKING: Trump-endorsed Coach Tommy Tuberville has WON the GOP gubernatorial primary in Alabama
CONGRATULATIONS, COACH!
Tuberville is a sitting US Senator and former Auburn football coach
Can’t WAIT until he’s officially elected in November and I can move to Alabama pic.twitter.com/6qBWbhMCvz [5]
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) May 20, 2026 [6]
Tuberville’s victory puts him on track to become the Republican nominee in the race to lead Alabama after Ivey leaves office because of term limits. Ivey, also a Republican, is unable to seek another term.
The Alabama race marks another major step in Tuberville’s political career after he first won a U.S. Senate seat in 2020.
Before entering politics, Tuberville was widely known for his coaching career, including his time as a college football coach in the Southeastern Conference.
NBC News noted that Tuberville became a Trump favorite during the 2020 Republican Senate primary, when he ran in a race that included former Sen. Jeff Sessions, who had served as Trump’s first attorney general.
Sessions had drawn Trump’s criticism after appointing a special counsel to investigate alleged links between Trump’s 2016 campaign and Russia. Trump fired Sessions from the Cabinet in 2018 and later repeatedly criticized him.
Tuberville went on to win the Republican Senate nomination in 2020 and then won the general election.
His relationship with Trump has remained a central part of his political identity, and Trump’s endorsement in the governor’s race signaled strong support from the top of the Republican Party.
Trump has also endorsed Rep. Barry Moore, R-Ala., to replace Tuberville in the U.S. Senate. That endorsement sets up a separate Alabama Republican contest as Tuberville moves from the Senate toward the governor’s race.
Tuberville’s commanding lead at the time of the call showed the strength of his position in the Republican primary. His campaign now advances to the general election phase in a state that has remained solidly Republican in recent statewide races.