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Tommy Tuberville is furious — because someone told the truth in public. That’s a problem when your political playbook depends on keeping voters in the dark and rivals off-balance.
According to multiple sources, Tuberville told a group of donors at a private event on Wednesday night that he’s planning a run for governor in 2026. That tidbit spread faster than banana pudding at a Baptist potluck. In Alabama politics, secrets don’t stay buried — they show up early, sit front row, and ask for sweet tea.
So when Yellowhammer News reported the obvious, Tuberville melted down like a plastic lawn chair in July. By Thursday morning, the whispers had turned into headlines. Then Tuberville took to Facebook — and things got weird.
“While I appreciate all the interest,” he wrote, “Suzanne and I are still praying about how to best serve the people of Alabama. When I have an official announcement about my future, you’ll hear it directly from me.”
Translation: I said it, I meant it, but now I’m hoping you’ll forget it.
The comments rolled in. Some folks were thrilled. Others had questions. And many were just wondering why a man who seems to live in Florida keeps running for office in Alabama.
It’s a fair question.
Under state law, a candidate for governor must reside in Alabama for seven consecutive years. Tuberville? He didn’t even get an Alabama driver’s license until March 28, 2019 — just a few weeks before announcing his Senate run. Until then, he was comfortably parked at his $6 million Santa Rosa Beach mansion in Florida, sipping something with an umbrella in it.
Now he wants the keys to the Governor’s Mansion?
The bigger mystery isn’t the residency — it’s the rage. Why the outburst over a news story that confirmed what everyone in the room already knew?
Political operatives have a theory. “He’s bluffing,” one GOP insider told APR. “This is poker. He’s trying to clear the field before anyone else declares.”
Another source put it more bluntly: “Coach doesn’t like to raise money. He doesn’t like to campaign. He wants the crown, not the battle.”
Classic Tuberville. Just vibes, Facebook posts and fundraising emails.
But Alabama doesn’t work that way. Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth is already in position, and he’s not going to step aside so Tommy can jog in unopposed. This isn’t the SEC — we don’t do tune-up games in the primary.
Let’s not forget the bigger picture. Why would Tuberville leave a cushy U.S. Senate seat where he barely shows up, rarely says anything of substance and can coast to re-election? “He’s a lock in 2026,” one political veteran said. “As governor, what use is he to Trump? Seriously — tell me.”
Unless, of course, it’s not really about serving anyone but himself.
Did Tuberville forget to mention to President Trump that he’s planning to abandon the Senate? Hard to believe he did — but if so, it’s even harder to believe Trump would see that as an act of loyalty.
Tuberville may think he’s riding high as he teases a run for governor, but as one power player put it, “Tuberville has no idea how many enemies he is making right now.” There’s an old saying in politics: friends come and go, but enemies accumulate — and Tuberville, with his clumsy bluffing and thin-skinned reactions, seems determined to prove it true.
Anyone who’s been around politics long enough knows: when something doesn’t make sense, follow the money. A fake-out governor run drums up buzz, raises cash and freezes out potential opponents. It’s not a campaign — it’s a con.
And about that whole “still praying” routine?
Please.
If praying were a campaign strategy, Tuberville would already be two terms into the papacy. Everyone says they’re praying, but let’s be honest — at this point, even God’s tired of being used as a campaign excuse.
For those already declaring the governor’s race over because Tuberville is leading in early polls, a little perspective is in order. In 2022, Katie Britt started with barely 3 percent support — and still beat Trump-endorsed Mo Brooks by a mile. In 2017, Judge Roy Moore, riding high on far-right adoration, managed to lose a U.S. Senate seat to Democrat Doug Jones. And in 2010, Bradley Byrne looked unbeatable — until Robert Bentley walked past him like he was standing still. Where are all those early favorites now? Forgotten footnotes in Alabama’s political graveyard. As my old friend Jack Campbell liked to say, “Cock of the walk today, feather duster tomorrow.” Tuberville might be leading now, but Alabama has a long memory for cocky politicians — and an even longer tradition of sending them home humbled.
The real problem isn’t Yellowhammer or leaks or timing. It’s that Tuberville thinks he’s playing 4D chess when he’s actually fumbling the checkers.
This wasn’t a leak. It was inevitable. In Alabama politics the walls talk, the tables text, and the donors gossip like middle-schoolers.
So go ahead, Coach. Announce. Don’t. But don’t act surprised when your own words beat you to the podium. This is politics — not practice.
