3-Time NCAA Nat'l Champ Assistant and Ex-Auburn Coach Running for Senate
Former Auburn University football coach Tommy Tuberville is joining the Republican race to win back the Senate seat from Democrat Doug Jones in 2020.
Tuberville was set to announce his candidacy Saturday, according to a person familiar with Tuberville’s decision.
This person wasn’t authorized to publicly discuss Tuberville’s plans and spoke on condition of anonymity.
Tuberville made the official announcement Saturday afternoon.
After more than a year of listening to Alabama’s citizens, I have heard your concerns and hopes for a better tomorrow. I am humbled to announce the next step — I will be a @GOP candidate for US Senate. I invite you to join my team. https://t.co/jlW8VdXpoq #TeamTommy #ALSen #MAGA
— Tommy Tuberville (@TTuberville) April 6, 2019
Twitter reactions were swift and varied. Some wondered aloud if Tuberville’s long career at Auburn would affect some of his votes, while others simply expressed surprise with Tuberville’s decision.
Honest question: Would Alabama football fans vote for a former Auburn coach? https://t.co/zFcUW9iQws
— Doug Lesmerises (@DougLesmerises) April 6, 2019
Oh my….https://t.co/92cWT6da9s
— Tony Barnhart (@MrCFB) April 6, 2019
Not the second Republican in the race we might have expected, but … #alpolitics https://t.co/oCdgWoZ9Ng
— Brian Lyman (@lyman_brian) April 6, 2019
Also, who advised Tuberville to announce for #ALSen on the day Auburn plays in the Final Four?!?!
— Jessica Taylor (@JessicaTaylor) April 6, 2019
Reports also circulated that President Donald Trump’s former press secretary Sean Spicer would be working with Tuberville.
“Former Donald Trump press secretary Sean Spicer is working on Tuberville’s campaign.” #ALsen https://t.co/QQpjkjPIX9
— Zach C. Cohen (@Zachary_Cohen) April 6, 2019
Republicans are trying to recapture the seat that was held by Republican Jeff Sessions, who was President Donald Trump’s first attorney general.
Jones, a former U.S. attorney, defeated ex-state Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore in a special election in 2017 after the Republican candidate was accused of sexual misconduct with teenagers. Moore denied the allegations.
Already in the GOP race is Bradley Byrne, a congressman.
The primary is set for March 3, 2020.
Tuberville kicked around the idea of running for governor of Alabama in 2018, but decided to stay out of politics at that time.
In 21 seasons as a head coach, Tuberville won 159 games with Mississippi, Auburn, Texas Tech and Cincinnati.
He stepped down at Cincinnati after the Bearcats went 4-8 in 2016.
Before that, Tuberville won three national championships as a defensive assistant with the Miami Hurricanes.
The Western Journal has reviewed this Associated Press story and may have altered it prior to publication to ensure that it meets our editorial standards.
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