Doug Jones and Tommy Tuberville make final campaign case in Alabama

Alabama’s gubernatorial nominees are walking a well-worn campaign trail for the final time as the race for the executive mansion heads into its closing hours. Democrat Doug Jones and Republican Tommy Tuberville spent the final stretch of the campaign laying out their policy positions, discussing state government, data centers, and public safety.

The stakes are clear for voters heading to the polls on Tuesday. The race pits Jones, a former U.S. senator, against Tuberville, the current U.S. senator and former Auburn football coach who unseated Jones from the Senate in his first run for public office. While recent polling commissioned by Alabama Daily News and Gray Television in mid-October showed Tuberville with an 11-point lead, a separate poll from Chism Strategies indicated the contest remained within the margin of error.

The Final Push From the Bus and the GOP Circuit

Jones spent the final days speaking from inside his campaign bus, leaning into a message of coalition-building and public investment. Having traveled the state to host nearly two dozen town halls, the Democrat has advocated for a one-year moratorium on data centers, the establishment of a state-run lottery, and the expansion of Medicaid. He brought in high-profile national surrogates like Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and former Georgia State Rep. Stacey Abrams to encourage turnout in a state President Donald Trump won by more than 30 points in 2024.

Don’t believe Tommy Tuberville’s BS, folks. pic.twitter.com/nldH8pAmrq

— https://x.com/DougJones/status/2090054002243248431

Tuberville has taken a different route, relying heavily on county GOP meetings and business groups. Laying out his agenda in a 22-page memo titled “Back to Basics: The Golden Age Playbook,” the Republican emphasized tax cuts, school choice, and government efficiency. Tuberville also secured the backing of Trump, appearing alongside the president during an October visit to Mobile.

In his closing television ad, Tuberville drew a sharp contrast with his opponent.

My opponent will grow government and raise your taxes – we’ll cut your taxes and make Montgomery live on a budget like you do. He wants to end school choice – I’ll expand it so every parent gets a say. He supports sanctuary cities and defunding the police – I’m going to double Alabama’s state troopers to keep your family safe.

The Tuberville campaign did not make the senator available to Alabama Daily News for an interview, nor did they respond to a request for comment regarding Jones’ criticisms of Tuberville’s AI-related holdings.

Dueling Visions for State Government and Public Safety

The candidates offered starkly different blueprints for managing state agencies. Jones criticized federal DOGE cuts as a disaster and said his approach would involve hiring top-tier agency heads to conduct internal reviews. He also pledged to audit the Alabama Department of Corrections and halt the use of Flock highway surveillance cameras until local authorities establish strict guardrails.

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Tuberville clarified his own plans for government reorganization, telling Alabama Public Television’s Capitol Journal that his mention of “DOGE” in Montgomery refers to structural efficiency rather than sweeping layoffs. On education, Tuberville voiced support for the CHOOSE Act—which allows families to access up to $7,000 for alternative schooling—while adding that participating private schools should be accredited.

Polls across the state are open Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.