Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall announced his bid for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., on Thursday.
Tuberville is expected to give up his seat after announcing his own run for Alabama’s governor Tuesday.
Marshall praised Tuberville for his time in the Senate and announced his intention to prioritize advancing U.S. President Donald Trump’s agenda during an interview with the Washington Examiner.
“Right now, the nation needs strong conservative leadership, somebody that’s going to be able to advance President Trump’s agenda,” Marshall said. “And the work that I’ve done as attorney general, I think, makes it abundantly clear that I’m willing to fight the right battles and to be effective in doing it, and look forward to being able to take that to the Senate.”
During the interview, Marshall pointed to his history of advocating against the policies of the Biden administration and for those of Trump.
The attorney general cited lawsuits he initiated alongside other red states against the Biden administration.
This includes suing the Biden administration over a 2024 Title IX rule which expanded the civil rights law’s protections against sex-based discrimination to also include discrimination against one’s gender identity.
Marshall also highlighted his stance on immigration, pointing out his opposition to the Biden administration’s parole policies for immigrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela.
Marshall’s campaign site emphasizes his support for several key issues pushed by Trump including the president’s immigration policies, dismantling the U.S. Department of Education, cutting taxes and “putting an end to wasteful government spending.”
Marshall’s campaign announcement video similarly included multiple clips of the president, featuring footage of the Trump’s May speech at the University of Alabama, as well as multiple clips of him commending Marshall.
“We’ll absolutely seek his endorsement, but I think one thing that is clear is that we have been one of the strongest supporters of the president on the issues that he has championed,” Marshall said of Trump.
Marshall’s campaign site also underscored his longstanding opposition to abortion.
“I am unapologetically pro-life and as your Attorney General I have fought tirelessly for the unborn,” Marshall’s office wrote. “As your Senator I will push back on the Democrats radical, pro-abortion agenda and fight to defund Planned Parenthood, stop abortion clinic pop-ups by schools, enforce the Hyde Amendment and stop your federal tax dollars from going to abortions.”
In April, a federal judge ruled against Marshall’s and Alabama district attorneys’ ability to prosecute individuals or organizations that assist pregnant Alabamians in accessing legal abortion care out of state.
The case was brought against the attorney general in 2023, by a group of healthcare providers after Marshall threatened to sue any individual or organization involved in aiding access to out of state abortion care.
Recent legal action pursued by Marshall includes suing social media platform TikTok and its parent company ByteDance in April, which he argued, “was designed to addict kids and put profits ahead of the mental health of an entire generation.”
Marshall told the Washington Examiner his strong track record of pushing conservative agendas as attorney general will allow him to stand out among other potential candidates.
“Look, some people talk tough. We’ve had an opportunity to get tough stuff done,” Marshall said. “I relish the opportunity to be able to contrast that with others that may be in the race.”
Marshall is the second Republican to enter the race, following Jared Hudson, who announced his candidacy Wednesday. Hudson is a former Navy Seal who ran for Jefferson County sheriff in 2022.
Kyle Sweetser, a “lifelong Alabama Republican,” who gained attention for disavowing the president’s policies during last year’s Democratic National Convention, also announced his run as a Democrat for Tuberville’s seat last month, prior to Tuberville announcing his bid for governor.
In his campaign announcement, Sweetser drew attention to controversies regarding the legitimacy of Tuberville’s residency in the state.
“It’s time to send Tommy Tuberville back to Florida and send someone to Washington who will actually fight for Alabama,” said Sweetser.
Former corporate executive and entrepreneur, Dakarai Larriett, has also announced his campaign as a Democrat for Tuberville’s seat.
While no other Republicans have formally announced a campaign for Tuberville’s seat, potential contenders who have publicly considered the position include former Congressman Mo Brooks, U.S. Rep Barry Moore, former congressional candidate Caroleene Dobson, former Secretary of State John Merrill and former Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs Commissioner Kent Davis.
Former national security advisor to Tuberville, Morgan Murphy, as well as Auburn Basketball coach Bruce Pearl have also been speculated as potential candidates, but neither have publicly confirmed their interest in the seat.
Marshall originally floated his run for Tuberville’s seat during a March interview on Alabama Public Television’s “Capitol Journal,” saying he’d be “ready to make a quick decision” should Tuberville run for governor.
Marshall is on his second term as attorney general and is blocked by term limits from seeking re-election.
Before becoming AG, Marshall had served as district attorney in Marshall County since 2001.
He was originally appointed to the position in 2017, by former Gov. Robert Bentley. Marshall succeeded former AG Luther Strange, who left the position vacant after accepting Bentley’s appointment to the U.S. Senate.
Marshall was elected to his first full term as attorney general in 2018, and secured reelection in 2022.
The attorney general resides in Montgomery with his wife, Tammy Marshall, and three children and is an active member of the Montgomery chapter of the Church of the Highlands.
Next year’s primary is set for May 19, 2026.
