Former Alabama Democratic Sen. Doug Jones is jumping into the state’s governor’s race, teeing up a rematch between him and Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville. The two first faced off in the 2020 U.S. Senate race, where Tuberville defeated Jones.
Jones was narrowly elected to the Senate in a 2017 special election against Republican Roy Moore, who was facing sexual misconduct accusations during his campaign. But three years later, he lost to Tuberville, who garnered more than 60% of the vote, compared to Jones’s 39.74% support. In 2022, Jones was the “sherpa” for Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson during her Senate confirmation, according to POLITICO, meaning he guided her through it.
“So I’ve made it official folks: I’ve filed the paperwork to run for Governor of Alabama. It’s time to remind this state of who we are and what we can accomplish together,” Jones, a Clinton-era former federal prosecutor, posted to X on Monday. The Democrat spent more than $32 million compared to Tuberville’s $8 million in the 2020 race, according to OpenSecrets.
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Tuberville, the former Auburn University head football coach, announced in May that he would seek to become the next occupant of the Yellowhammer State’s Governor’s Mansion.
“Last time Doug Jones ran against Coach Tuberville, it didn’t go well for Doug,” Mallory Blount Jaspers, Tuberville’s communications director, posted to X.
“Coach has spent the past six months building coalitions across the state, securing endorsements from every key player in Alabama politics, and shattering fundraising records,” she added. “This race is already over — but if Comrade Doug wants to get blown out again, be our guest.”
The last Democratic governor of Alabama was Don Siegelman, who served from 1999 to 2003. If Jones were elected, he would presumably face hefty Republican majorities in both chambers of the Alabama Legislature. Thirty-six states will hold gubernatorial races next year, including highly competitive races in Arizona and Nevada.
