Steve Marshall Hold Early Lead in Senate Race, But 48% are Undecided
Marshall has strongest support, but election is 11 1/2 months away
With the 2026 Republican primary for U.S. Senate in Alabama just under a year away, Attorney General Steve Marshall has emerged as the early frontrunner, according to a recent poll conducted by Remington Research Group, as reported in 1819 News.
The survey, conducted from May 12 to May 13, 2025, sampled 505 likely Republican primary voters and carries a margin of error of ±4%. Marshall leads the field with 28% support, followed by Caroleene Dobson at 13% and U.S. Representative Barry Moore (AL1) at 10%.
Notably, 48% of respondents remain undecided.
In a hypothetical scenario excluding Moore but including Auburn University men's basketball coach Bruce Pearl and Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth—who has stated he will not seek the Senate seat—Marshall still leads with 21%, while Ainsworth, Dobson, and Pearl each garner 9% to 13% support. Again, 48% of voters are undecided.
Recent reports that Pearl would be ineligible under current ALGOP bylaws because of his recent contributions to Democratic candidates have also cast doubt on Pearl’s entry into the race.
In a head-to-head matchup between Marshall and Moore, Marshall holds a significant lead with 37% to Moore's 11%, while 52% remain undecided.
As of now, Marshall and former Navy SEAL Jared Hudson are the only formally declared Republican candidates for the U.S. Senate seat. The seat is currently held by Senator Tommy Tuberville, who has announced he will not seek re-election and is instead running for governor in 2026.
The poll results indicate that while Marshall has a strong early lead, a significant portion of the electorate remains undecided. With qualifying for the 2026 election not opening until January 13, 2026, potential candidates have months yet to decide whether or not they will throw their hats into the ring.
