The Alabama Republican Party announced Sunday that U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville will remain the party's nominee for governor, after a unanimous vote by its 21-member steering committee to dismiss a residency challenge filed by his former primary opponent, Ken McFeeters.
McFeeters argued that Tuberville did not meet the Alabama Constitution's seven-year residency requirement to run for governor. The party decision clears the way for Tuberville to proceed with his gubernatorial campaign against Democratic former Sen. Doug Jones in November's general election.
What the Right Is Saying
Tuberville and state Republican officials defended his Alabama residency, pointing to submitted documentation including state tax records, property ownership records, driver's licenses, voter registration, and other corroborating materials.
State Republican Party Chair Scott Stadthagen announced the decision without taking questions from reporters. "We looked at it with the facts. The contest was unsuccessful. And Coach Tuberville will be our nominee for governor," Stadthagen said in a statement.
Tuberville called the challenge a "witch-hunt" by media and critics. "I'm thankful for the committee holding a hearing today to finally put this ridiculous residency hoax to bed," he said. "For the past six years, I've proudly represented Alabama in the United States Senate. When I'm not in D.C., Suzanne and I are at home in Auburn and yes, sometimes, at our beach house on the coast."
The party cited Tuberville's voting history in Alabama as a key factor. In their seven-page decision document, officials wrote that courts have determined voter registration to be an important consideration when determining domicile.
President Donald Trump has endorsed Tuberville's gubernatorial bid. Stadthagen said it is "time for the ALGOP to firmly close and lock this chapter and turn our full attention toward defeating liberal Democrat Doug Jones" and keeping Alabama a Republican stronghold.
What the Left Is Saying
Democratic opponents and critics have pointed to property records, voting history, and tax filings as evidence that Tuberville maintains stronger ties to Florida than Alabama.
McFeeters, who lost to Tuberville in last month's Republican primary, spoke before the hearing: "Does he live in Alabama? No," McFeeters said. "He doesn't live here."
The challenge cited multiple pieces of documentary evidence. Property tax records show that Tuberville and his wife own a beach home in Florida valued at $5.6 million. Voting records indicate Tuberville voted in Florida as recently as November 2018, and did not register to vote in Alabama until March 28, 2019—about two weeks before announcing his Senate campaign.
McFeeters also pointed to Tuberville's Senate travel records showing frequent trips to the Florida Panhandle. In a 2017 promotional video for ESPN, where Tuberville worked after retiring from coaching, he discussed moving to Florida following his retirement from college football.
What the Numbers Show
The seven-year residency requirement stems from Article V, Section 116 of the Alabama Constitution, which states that the governor and lieutenant governor "shall have been citizens of the United States ten years and resident citizens of this state at least seven years next before the date of their election."
Tax records submitted by Tuberville indicate the family moved to Alabama in August 2018. The senator released heavily redacted Alabama income tax returns from 2018 to 2024 as evidence, listing an Auburn address.
Property records show the Auburn home was purchased by his wife and son in 2017. Tuberville's name was added to the property deed in 2024, with his son's name removed. Both homes—the Auburn residence appraised at approximately $291,780 for its 1,551 square feet, and the Florida beach property—have recently been placed into revocable trusts.
In the 2020 Republican Senate primary, Tuberville defeated former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who ran advertisements labeling Tuberville a "Florida Man." Tuberville won that primary with 61% of the vote to Sessions' 39%, then went on to defeat Democratic incumbent Doug Jones in the general election.
The Bottom Line
The party's decision ends the formal residency challenge within the Republican Party apparatus, but it does not preclude future legal action. Constitutional scholars note the requirement's wording—"resident citizens of this state at least seven years next before" an election—could create ambiguity if contested in court.
Tuberville now advances to the general election matchup against Doug Jones, whom he defeated for the Senate seat in 2020. The governor's race is expected to draw significant national attention as Republicans seek to maintain control of Alabama's top executive office.
Critics may still pursue judicial remedies before November, though any such challenge would need to navigate procedural hurdles and establish legal standing to bring a case.