Alabama Senator Faces Residency Questions Ahead of Governor Run

Tuberville's alleged Florida ties raise concerns about his qualifications to lead Alabama

Feb. 2, 2026 at 3:47pm

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Tommy Tuberville, the senior U.S. senator from Alabama, is facing questions about his residency status as he runs for governor of the state. Tuberville has been accused of spending most of his time in Florida in recent years, despite claiming a homestead exemption on a property in Auburn, Alabama. This raises concerns about whether he meets the state's constitutional requirement of being a "resident citizen" for at least seven years prior to the election.

Why it matters

The residency issue is important because it speaks to Tuberville's honesty and commitment to serving the people of Alabama. If he is not truly a resident of the state, it could call into question his qualifications to be governor and his ability to understand and address the needs of Alabamians.

The details

Tuberville was a resident of Florida as recently as 2017, according to an ad he filmed for ESPN that year. He later claimed a homestead exemption on a property in Auburn in October 2018, but he also voted in Florida that same year. Tuberville's office and the former Alabama Republican Party chair have insisted he is still living in Auburn, but travel receipts suggest he is spending most of his time in Florida. Tuberville has not released his state income tax forms, which could help settle the residency question.

  • In 2017, Tuberville appeared in an ad claiming he lived in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida.
  • In October 2018, Tuberville's wife and son claimed a homestead exemption on a property in Auburn, Alabama.
  • In 2018, Tuberville voted in Florida, after the homestead exemption was granted in Alabama.

The players

Tommy Tuberville

The senior U.S. senator from Alabama who is running for governor, but has faced questions about whether he meets the state's residency requirements.

Ken McFeeters

A GOP gubernatorial candidate who has filed a formal complaint with the Alabama Republican Party about Tuberville's residency.

John Wahl

The former Alabama Republican Party chair who insisted that Tuberville was still living in Auburn, Alabama.

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What they’re saying

“We have a (mostly) clear-cut legal issue here. The Alabama Constitution requires candidates for governor to be 'resident citizens of this state at least seven years next before the date of their election.'”

— Brian Liman, Author

“Tuberville's office — and then-Alabama Republican Party chair John Wahl — insisted that he was still living in Auburn. (Tuberville added his name to the Auburn property deed in May 2024).”

— Brian Liman, Author

What’s next

The Alabama Republican Party may pursue McFeeters' complaint about Tuberville's residency, but it is unlikely to remove him from the ballot. The issue is likely to end up in the Alabama courts, where Alabamians should have confidence that the appellate judges will reach a reasonable, objective conclusion based on the evidence, legal precedent, and the language of the state constitution.

The takeaway

The residency issue raises questions about Tuberville's honesty and commitment to serving the people of Alabama. Voters should consider how this issue speaks to Tuberville's willingness to be transparent and his plans for who he intends to serve as governor, wherever he may live.