Alabama Citizens for Constitutional Reform asked both candidates for governor what changes they would support to the state’s constitution. Doug Jones responded with proposals to expand local authority, give citizens a direct path to the ballot and change how Alabama draws political districts and elects its executive leadership.
ACCR sent the question to Jones and Tommy Tuberville on August 8: “What is your position on reforming the Alabama Constitution? Specifically, what changes to the Alabama Constitution would you as governor support, if any?”
In an October 6 letter to ACCR President Kristi Thomson and the organization’s members, Jones said constitutional reform should give Alabamians greater control over their government.
“For more than a century, our Constitution has concentrated too much power in Montgomery and too little in communities across Alabama,” Jones wrote.
He argued that the system has too often served the “Big Mules,” powerful and well-connected interests with an outsized voice in state government.
Jones endorsed home rule that would give cities and counties greater authority over taxation, local ordinances and other community decisions.
“I believe we should trust Alabamians and the local leaders they elect to determine what is best for their communities,” he wrote.
Jones also supported a citizen-led initiative and referendum process, allowing citizens to put issues before voters rather than leaving that power exclusively with the Legislature.
On redistricting, he called for a constitutional amendment banning partisan gerrymandering and establishing an independent commission to draw political districts.
“Voters should choose their representatives, not the other way around,” Jones wrote.
He also endorsed having candidates for governor and lieutenant governor run together as a team, with the lieutenant governor serving a meaningful role in the executive branch.
Jones described constitutional reform as a longstanding priority, dating to his college years, when he worked on efforts to modernize Alabama’s court system through a new judicial article.
He praised the constitutional recompilation approved by voters in 2022, which removed racist language and reorganized the document. That process was limited to specified revisions and did not authorize broader changes to the structure of state government.
“That was important progress, but it did not change many of the fundamental structures we inherited from 1901,” Jones wrote.
Jones pledged to work with ACCR, local leaders, legislators from both parties and citizens to pursue further reforms.
“These reforms share a simple principle,” he wrote. “Alabamians should have a greater say in their government, communities should have greater freedom to make decisions for themselves, and state government should answer to the people it serves.”
ACCR said it sent its questions to both candidates by mail and email and, when sharing Jones’ letter, was still awaiting a response from Tuberville.
