The Alabama Ballot Challenge: Ken McFeeters Lawsuit and Tommy Tuberville Florida Residency Eligibility for Governor ​I

By Staff Writer March 31, 2026

​In a legal move that has sent shockwaves through the state’s political landscape, gubernatorial candidate Ken McFeeters has filed a formal ballot challenge against Senator Tommy Tuberville. The lawsuit, filed in Covington County, centers on whether the Senator meets the mandatory residency requirements to hold the office of Governor in Alabama.

​The Basis of the Challenge

​The core of the legal dispute rests on Section 116 of the Alabama Constitution, which stipulates that a candidate for governor must be a resident citizen of the state for at least seven years immediately preceding the election. The lawsuit alleges that Senator Tuberville’s primary residency is actually located in the Florida panhandle.

​Key evidence cited in the challenge includes:

• ​Senate Flight Records: Travel logs from 2021 to 2023 purportedly show a majority of the Senator’s flights connecting to Florida rather than Alabama.

• ​Property Discrepancies: The lawsuit describes Tuberville’s Auburn residence—a one-bedroom property—as a "house of convenience" rather than a primary family home.

• ​Vehicle Maintenance: Carfax reports indicate the Senator’s truck was serviced multiple times in Destin, Florida, throughout 2024.

  
  

​Potential Political Fallout

​McFeeters contends that failing to address these eligibility questions now could jeopardize the Republican party's standing in the general election. He argues that if Tuberville remains the nominee but is later disqualified by the courts, the GOP could be left without a viable candidate to face the opposition.

​While the Senator’s camp maintains his eligibility based on his Alabama driver’s license and homestead exemption in Auburn, McFeeters is pushing for a jury trial. He asserts that the people of Alabama should be the ones to determine the facts regarding the Senator’s true residency.