Doug Jones and Phillip Ensler Unveil Plan to Redefine the Role of Lieutenant Governor

From the Jones campaign

September 16

Montgomery, AL – Doug Jones and Phillip Ensler unveiled a plan Wednesday on the steps of the State Capitol to redefine the role of Alabama's lieutenant governor, including a proposed constitutional amendment to bring the office into the executive branch and have future candidates for governor and lieutenant governor run for office together as a ticket, just as the President and Vice President. Currently, 27 states elect their governor and lieutenant governor together.

Alabama's lieutenant governor currently serves as president of the State Senate and succeeds the governor if the office becomes vacant. The Senate has stripped away much of the office's legislative authority over time, including additional powers during the 2026 legislative session. Jones said the current structure and legislative rules leave the office with a diminished role in state government and that he wants the lieutenant governor to play a more strategic policy role in the executive branch. 

Under the proposed amendment, future candidates for governor would select a running mate and the two would run together as a ticket rather than being elected separately.

Jones and Ensler would not wait for a constitutional amendment to begin working together. If elected, Ensler would serve as an advisor to Jones, taking on a policy portfolio and representing the administration across the state.

“The main thing I want folks to take away from this is that we’re going to be a team,” Jones said. “What we’re going to be doing as governor and lieutenant governor will be to implement the new policies that bring change to Alabama’s government, that bring more transparency, more efficiency and more accountability.”

Ensler also laid out plans to make greater use of the responsibilities that already come with the office. He would publicly post vacancies for the hundreds of appointments the lieutenant governor makes to state boards and commissions and base appointments on qualifications and experience. Ensler also committed to visiting all 67 counties at least once each year to hear directly from Alabamians and bring those concerns back to Montgomery.

“The lieutenant governor can and should, on day one, be ready to fight for the people of Alabama,” Ensler said. “The lieutenant governor really can get to work.”