Ballot Battle: Tuberville Residency Challenge Shakes Up Alabama Governor’s Race

Staff Writer January 28, 2028

​MONTGOMERY, AL — A formal legal challenge filed this week has thrown the 2026 Republican gubernatorial primary into a state of constitutional uncertainty. Ken McFeeters, a Pelham-based insurance executive and candidate for governor, has officially challenged the eligibility of front-runner Senator Tommy Tuberville, alleging the Senator fails to meet the state’s strict residency requirements.

​At the heart of the dispute is Article V, Section 117 of the Alabama Constitution, which mandates that a governor must be a "resident citizen of this state at least seven years next before the date of their election."

​The "Address of Convenience" Allegation

​McFeeters’ challenge, submitted to the Alabama Republican Party (ALGOP) leadership on January 27, 2026, claims that Tuberville’s primary residence is not the modest $291,000 home in Auburn he claims as his domicile, but rather a $5.5 million estate on the Florida Gulf Coast.

​The challenge cites several pieces of evidence to support the claim:

• ​Senate Travel Records: Expense reports and PAC filings allegedly show frequent flights to and from Florida airports with "minimal evidence" of regular travel to Auburn.

• ​Property Records: While Tuberville claims a homestead exemption on the Auburn property, the challenge notes that the home was originally purchased by his wife and son, with the Senator's name only added later.

• ​The "Next Before" Clause: McFeeters argues that Alabama law requires seven consecutive years of residency immediately preceding the election, not an aggregate total of time spent in the state over a lifetime.

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​High Stakes for the GOP

​The challenge puts the Alabama Republican Party in a difficult position. If the 21-member Steering Committee finds merit in the challenge, they could remove the dominant front-runner from the ballot. Conversely, ignoring the challenge carries its own risks; if Tuberville were to win the primary only to be disqualified by a court later, the GOP would be unable to replace him on the general election ballot.

​Furthermore, McFeeters points to a potential legal "catch-22" regarding voting records. If Tuberville is found to have lived primarily in Florida during the last seven years, it raises questions about the legality of his votes cast in Alabama during that same period.

​The Tuberville Response

​The Tuberville campaign has dismissed the filing as a "ridiculous PR stunt from a desperate candidate." A spokesperson emphasized that the Senator has "proudly represented Alabama" in the U.S. Senate since 2021 and maintains that his Auburn home is his true primary residence. Tuberville himself recently told reporters he is confident in his eligibility, stating, "We checked it out... I wouldn't be doing this if I thought it was a problem."

​The ALGOP Steering Committee is expected to decide within the coming weeks whether there is sufficient evidence to move forward with a formal evidentiary hearing.