Tuberville's Residency Strengthened by Tax Records — But Questions Linger Over Driver’s License
Critics had previously questioned his residency due to his long-term ownership of a beachfront property in Santa Rosa Beach.
As U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville stirs speculation about a 2026 run for Governor of Alabama, renewed attention is being placed on his residency status — a critical legal and political issue for anyone seeking the state’s top office.
According to a recent report by 1819 News, public tax records confirm that the Tubervilles have claimed a homestead exemption on their Auburn home since 2018. That exemption is only available on a homeowner’s primary residence, lending weight to Tuberville’s assertion that he has lived in Alabama long before he launched his Senate campaign in 2019.
Critics had previously questioned his residency due to his long-term ownership of a beachfront property in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, where he was known to spend significant time. He even voted in Florida’s 2018 midterm elections before switching his voter registration to Alabama in March 2019.
With the homestead exemption records confirming Auburn as his primary residence for at least the last six years, Tuberville will appear to meet the seven-year residency requirement to run for Governor under Alabama law by the time the election rolls around.
Still, one unanswered question remains: what does Tuberville’s driver's license say? State law requires that your driver’s license reflect your permanent address, and that document, along with the date it was issued or renewed, could either bolster or undermine the case for his long-standing Alabama residency.
Tuberville has previously said he holds an Alabama license, but details about when it was issued and whether it lists Auburn as his official address have not been made public.
Despite the lingering questions, Tuberville remains a popular figure among Alabama Republicans, particularly after his high-profile support of President Donald Trump and his vocal opposition to Biden-era Pentagon policies. His connection to the state is also reinforced by his long career as Auburn University’s head football coach.
Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth, another favorite among conservatives, is also expected to be a major contender in the 2026 race. Unlike Tuberville, Ainsworth’s Alabama residency has never been in question. Should both men enter the race, it could create a high-profile and high-stakes primary showdown between two of the state’s most prominent Republicans.
For now, Tuberville hasn’t officially declared his candidacy, but his movements and recent comments suggest he’s seriously considering it.
The tax records may have answered one key question. The driver’s license may answer the rest.
