Former U.S. Senator Doug Jones has quietly filed paperwork with the Alabama Secretary of State’s Office to run for governor, taking the first formal step toward what could become one of the most closely watched political contests in recent state history.
Jones, who gained national attention in 2017 after his special election victory over former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore, has not released plans for a formal announcement. His campaign confirmed the filing on Monday, saying only that “Doug believes Alabama deserves leadership that listens, unites, and delivers real results.”
The filing allows Jones to begin organizing and fundraising ahead of an official campaign launch.
Jones served as U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama from 1997 to 2001. During that time, he successfully prosecuted former Ku Klux Klan members Thomas Blanton Jr. and Bobby Frank Cherry for the 1963 bombing of Birmingham’s 16th Street Baptist Church, which killed four young girls. He also worked with federal authorities on the case against Eric Rudolph, responsible for the 1998 bombing of a Birmingham abortion clinic. His tenure included major public corruption and healthcare fraud cases, and he was recognized for civil rights enforcement.
In the Senate, Jones focused on bipartisan legislation, veterans’ issues, workforce development and healthcare. He served on the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Committee on Aging, supporting pay raises for service members, improvements to veterans’ healthcare, and efforts to reduce prescription drug costs. He backed increased funding for Pell Grants and HBCUs, co-sponsored the Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act, and voted for the First Step Act, the Emmett Till Antilynching Act, and measures to strengthen the Voting Rights Act. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Jones supported relief efforts for small businesses, hospitals and schools.
Jones is expected to face U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville, who has announced plans to leave the Senate to run for governor.
U.S. Representative Terri Sewell praised Jones’s entry into the race.
“I am excited that Doug is entering the governor’s race. He will elevate the entire democratic ticket statewide,” Sewell said.
“He was a terrific senator and is a well-respected legislator, attorney, and solid fundraiser who has the smarts, connections, and dogged determination to take on Senator Tuberville,” she said. “Doug has beaten the Republican machine before, and he cannot be counted out. I am grateful for his willingness to serve the people of Alabama.”
Alabama House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels also voiced strong support for Jones.
“Having a quality candidate, like Doug, who generates excitement at the top of the ticket is very important for the entire party,” Daniels said. “That’s especially true when that candidate is also very pro-worker and pro-growth, like Doug. In this current climate, a lot of working folks are realizing that they’ve been getting a raw deal at the national level and they’re looking for other options.
“People want candidates who have their best interests at heart. Having a serious challenge at the top of the ticket will ensure candidates get the attention they deserve. And it hopefully gives us an opportunity to provide the government the people of this state deserve — one that addresses kitchen table issues that works for the average Alabamian and their family.”
Jones’s filing sets up a rare potential race in which two former U.S. senators will compete for Alabama’s highest office.
