Morgan Murphy Announces Candidacy for Alabama's 2026 U.S. Senate Race

Morgan Murphy, a former national security advisor to Senator Tommy Tuberville, will officially declare his candidacy for Alabama’s open U.S. Senate seat in the 2026 Republican primary Monday evening, USA Today has reported.

Murphy, 53, brings a unique blend of culinary expertise, media experience, and military service to his political ambitions. Born in Mountain Brook, Alabama, Murphy began his career in journalism after his student newspaper at Birmingham-Southern College caught the attention of media mogul Rupert Murdoch. This led to an internship at The New York Post in 1994. He later joined Vanity Fair and Forbes, covering various sectors including small business, entertainment, and automotive industries. In 2000, Murphy returned to his hometown to become the travel editor, food critic, and national spokesman for Southern Living magazine, roles that significantly shaped his public persona. His culinary writing has earned him accolades such as the American Library Association's Humor Book of the Year award in 2010.

Murphy has served in the U.S. Navy Reserve since 1999. His military service includes deployments to Afghanistan and roles as Press Secretary to former Acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller. He was promoted to Captain in 2020 and has received numerous military honors, including the Defense Meritorious Service Medal and the Afghanistan Campaign Medal.

Murphy's transition into national security advisory roles began with his involvement in the Trump administration, where he served as a Senior Fellow at the America First Policy Institute. He later became a national security advisor to Senator Tuberville, contributing to the Senator's efforts to challenge Department of Defense policies. Murphy's recent position was as a Senior Public Diplomacy Adviser to the President's Special Envoy to Ukraine.

In discussing his Senate bid with USA Today, Murphy emphasized his alignment with former President Donald Trump's "America First" agenda, stating, "I feel called to run because President Trump’s America first agenda is the first political movement in my lifetime that made sense to me." He noted his commitment to extending Trump's approach beyond the presidency, aiming to "make it my mission to continue their fight in the U.S. Senate for years to come." 

Murphy joins a growing Republican field for the seat vacated by Tuberville, who has launched a campaign for Governor. Other candidates include U.S. Rep. Barry Moore, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, businessman Rodney Walker and former Navy SEAL Jared Hudson. The Alabama Republican primary is scheduled for May 19, 2026.

Murphy’s personal web page is morganwwmurphy.com. At press time, no campaign page was available for review.