- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Doug Jones Pushes State Lottery as Alabama Campaign Priority
Former senator highlights healthcare expansion and Tuberville residency concerns in Huntsville gala address.
Feb. 1, 2026 at 12:47am
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
In a keynote address at the North Alabama Black Realtist Association gala in Huntsville, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Doug Jones outlined his vision for Alabama's future, emphasizing economic development, healthcare expansion, and constitutional accountability. Jones stressed the need for a state lottery to keep revenue in Alabama, criticized the state's refusal to expand Medicaid, and weighed in on the residency controversy surrounding Republican opponent Tommy Tuberville.
Why it matters
As Alabama prepares for the upcoming gubernatorial election, Jones's policy priorities and willingness to address controversial issues like Tuberville's residency could shape the campaign narrative and influence voter sentiment. The state's lack of a lottery and Medicaid expansion have been longstanding points of debate, making Jones's stance on these matters significant.
The details
During his address, Jones emphasized his focus on recruiting strong candidates across the state as he builds his gubernatorial campaign. He argued that establishing a state lottery should be the next governor's top priority, as Alabama is the only state in the Southeast without one, resulting in the loss of billions in potential revenue. Jones also highlighted healthcare access as a critical issue, criticizing Alabama's refusal to expand Medicaid and the strain it places on rural hospitals and residents. When asked about Tuberville's residency, which has raised constitutional questions, Jones stated that the law must be followed and that one cannot simply "pick and choose" which parts of the state constitution to abide by.
- Jones delivered the keynote address at the North Alabama Black Realtist Association gala in Huntsville on February 1, 2026.
The players
Doug Jones
The Democratic gubernatorial candidate in Alabama, who previously served as a U.S. senator.
Tommy Tuberville
The Republican gubernatorial candidate in Alabama and current U.S. senator, whose residency has raised constitutional questions.
Ken McFeeters
A Republican candidate running against Tuberville in the Alabama gubernatorial primary, who has filed a challenge regarding Tuberville's qualification.
Sharita Whitehead
The incoming president of the North Alabama Black Realtist Association, who emphasized her theme of "unity and action" and commitment to collaborating with various community organizations.
North Alabama Black Realtist Association
A community organization founded in 1947 when Black real estate professionals were excluded from the National Association of Realtors, which has been a leader in promoting financial literacy, homeownership, and community development for nearly 80 years.
What they’re saying
“We have spent a lot of time trying to work with recruiting candidates. And we're really proud of the candidates they've been recruited to run statewide and for legislative candidates. There's a lot of enthusiasm, a lot of momentum.”
— Doug Jones, Democratic gubernatorial candidate
“We're the only state in the Southeast that does not have a lottery. So all of our money goes to Georgia and Mississippi and Florida and Tennessee. And we need to keep it here. And we're missing out on billions of dollars at this point.”
— Doug Jones, Democratic gubernatorial candidate
“It's the law. It's required. You can't just pick and choose what pieces of the (state) Constitution and the law that you want to abide by, which is really one of Sen. Tuberville's problems right now.”
— Doug Jones, Democratic gubernatorial candidate
“Unity and action”
— Sharita Whitehead, Incoming president, North Alabama Black Realtist Association
What’s next
The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.
The takeaway
This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.
