The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Feb. 20, 2026
Does Alabama’s senior U.S. Senator and candidate for governor Tommy Tuberville actually live in Alabama? The question is not as far-fetched as it seems.
Alabama.com reports that one of Tuberville’s Republican rivals in the state gubernatorial race, Ken McFeeters, alleges Tuberville lives most of his time at his multi-million dollar home in Santa Rosa Beach …. Florida.
Tuberville was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2020, and claims he has lived in Alabama continuously since 2019. The Washington Post reported that he sold his last property in Alabama in 2023, and Tuberville claims his full time residence to be $271,000 home in Auburn, Alabama, owned by his wife and son.
The McFeeters campaign, however, claims flight records, Senate travel reimbursement expense reports, and car service records show Tuberville has spent most of his time in Florida.
Article 5, section 3 of the U.S. Constitution says, “Every member of the Senate shall be . . . at the time of his election, a resident of the state from which he shall be chosen.” But the Alabama Constitution states candidates for governor must be, QUOTE, “resident citizens of this state at least seven years before the date of their election.”
The state GOP has dismissed the allegations, but McFeeters has appealed and is calling for an investigation. We have links to local reporting at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
AL.com – Republican rival cites Tuberville’s flights to Florida in Alabama residency challenge
Washington Post – (2023) Tommy Tuberville: Florida’s third senator?
Alabama Reflector – Alabama GOP dismisses residency challenges against Tommy Tuberville, John Wahl
Alabama Secretary of State – Minimum Qualifications for Public Office
Alabama Constitution via BallotPedia – Article V, Sec. 117. Qualifications of governor and lieutenant governor; lieu- tenant governor ex officio president of senate.
Register or Check Your Voter Registration:
U.S. Election Assistance Commission – How to Register And Vote in Your State
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