Alabama GOP Clears Tuberville of Residency Challenge

The Alabama Republican Party’s Steering Committee voted Sunday to dismiss the formal residency challenge against U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville, ruling that he remains eligible to appear on the Republican ballot in the 2026 Governor’s race.

The challenge was filed late last month by fellow GOP gubernatorial candidate Ken McFeeters, who argued that Tuberville did not meet the State Constitution’s requirement that a candidate for Governor must have been a “resident citizen” of Alabama for at least seven years before the election.

In his filing, McFeeters pointed to property records and travel patterns indicating that Tuberville spends significant time at a beachfront home in Florida and questioned whether the Senator’s Auburn address reflects a true residence

Tuberville’s campaign swiftly dismissed the challenge when it was filed. "Finally, common sense has prevailed and this made-up 'residency' hoax will be put to bed for good," Coach Tuberville's campaign chairman Jordan said. "I thought we were done with this after his opponents and the liberal media used this same line of attack in 2019 and Coach went on to hammer incumbent Senator Doug Jones during the 2020 Senate campaign by 20 points – but apparently a desperate primary opponent didn't get the message this time around.

The campaign noted that Tuberville “has held a driver's license, voted, and lived in Auburn, Alabama, since 2019. He has spent the past six years proudly representing Alabama in the United States Senate.”

The Steering Committee’s decision to reject McFeeters’ appeal means that Tuberville will remain on the ballot for the Republican nomination. The Committee also dismissed a similar residency challenge against 2026 Lieutenant Governor candidate and former ALGOP chair John Wahl.

Under Party rules, dismissing these challenges at the Committee level ends the internal review process, though it does not prevent future legal action in court.

Section 117 of Alabama’s Constitution sets a seven-year residency requirement for Governor and Lieutenant Governor candidates. McFeeters’ challenge focused on whether Tuberville’s documented time and travel patterns satisfy that clause.

Tuberville, who registered to vote in Alabama in 2019 after previously voting in Florida, has faced scrutiny over his ties to both States. His campaign maintains that he has long been rooted in Auburn and meets all constitutional qualifications.

The GOP Steering Committee must certify its primary ballot candidates by late February ahead of the March 19 primary election.

For more information on Coach Tuberville's campaign, visit https://www.coachforgovernor.com or follow him on social media.