Tommy Tuberville Jumps Into Alabama Governor’s Race

After months of talking about it, Alabama Senior Republican U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville has officially submitted the paperwork to run for the Republican gubernatorial nomination. He submitted the forms at Republican Party of Alabama (ALGOP) headquarters in Montgomery today.

"I decided last summer/spring that my next step would be CEO of the state. I think that fits me better," Tuberville explained in his opening remarks, "It's time to come home."

"I want to make the lives of people of this state better," Tuberville added.

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Tuberville has discussed his expected run with media for several months and made it obvious he planned to run. His priorities in the race will focus on economic development, education, and workforce development.

Tuberville, like outgoing Gov. Kay Ivey, says he will be the number one recruiter for the state of Alabama. If elected, he would inherit a state in good financial condition with low unemployment and extended massive capital investment.

The one term U.S. Senator says he is not against Alabama having a lottery but believes that there is not enough money in it and that a lottery is a pipe dream. He says bringing high paying jobs to Alabama like Space Command, the Huntsville FBI facility, new manufacturing, Novelis, and Fannie Mae is the key to prosperity.

The former Auburn football coach also pointed to crime as a major focus, "We are going to get control of it. Whether I have to do it or whether we have to hire more policemen, more state troopers, people say, 'We don't have the money'. That's not an option. Not having money to control crime is not an option."

"Because if you don't have safe streets and neighbourhoods, you can forget recruiting people to come, small businesses, or manufacturers."

Coach, as he likes to be called, also vowed to examine the effectiveness and quality of K-12 and higher education in the state but he emphasized the need to increase technical training for jobs such as plumbers, electricians, and nurses.

Tuberville is the odds-on favorite to defeat his only other declared GOP opposition, insurance agent Ken McFeeters. That is expected then to set up a rematch with the man he defeated in the U.S. Senate General Election, Democrat Doug Jones.

The party primaries are scheduled for Tuesday, May 19 with the General Election on Tuesday, November 3rd.