Stimpson Endorses Tuberville for Governor, Citing Ports, I-65 and Public Safety

Former Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson endorsed Republican U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville for governor, calling him a reliable partner on economic development, infrastructure and public safety ahead of the Nov. 3 election.

By James Bullard

October 30, 2026 · 7:22 am 4 min read

Former Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson has endorsed Tommy Tuberville in the race for Alabama governor.

MOBILE, Ala. — In an opinion piece published days before the Nov. 3 general election, former Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson endorses Tuberville for Alabama governor, throwing his support behind the Republican U.S. senator in the race to succeed Gov. Kay Ivey.

Stimpson, who served as Mobile’s 108th mayor from 2013 to 2025, said Tuberville “has been a reliable partner during his time in the Senate” and pointing to the senator’s focus on economic development, infrastructure and public safety.

Tuberville, R-Auburn, is the Republican nominee for governor. He faces Democratic nominee and former U.S. Sen. Doug Jones of Mountain Brook, along with independent candidate Ronald Brunette Jr., in the general election. Gov. Kay Ivey is term-limited and cannot seek re-election.

Stimpson cites Senate partnership

Stimpson framed his endorsement around the working relationship between Mobile and Tuberville during the senator’s time in Washington.

“As a Senator, Coach put an emphasis on economic development, infrastructure and public safety,” Stimpson wrote. “His relationships with the current Administration and others have helped to secure the resources needed to improve each of those priorities.”

Tuberville, widely known as “Coach” from his years as head football coach at Auburn University and other programs, was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2020, when he defeated Jones, who then held the seat. This year’s governor’s race is a rematch of that contest.

Stimpson now serves on the Alabama State Port Authority and as chairman of the Mobile Airport Authority, two bodies that oversee the kinds of transportation assets he highlighted in his endorsement.

Carrying on after Ivey

Much of the former mayor’s argument centered on continuity with Ivey, whom he credited with helping Mobile during his tenure.

“For the past decade, Mobile has been blessed to have a dedicated and devoted ally in Gov. Kay Ivey,” Stimpson said. “Her steady leadership, along with the members of her Administration, has led to extraordinary progress in our city…That’s why it’s so important that voters go to the polls and elect the right leader to succeed Gov. Ivey. For me, that candidate is Sen. Tommy Tuberville – or ‘Coach.’”

Stimpson said he believes Tuberville would build on that progress, particularly by promoting the state’s transportation network as an economic engine.

“As a candidate for Governor, he is promoting the expansion of the Alabama State Docks as well as our rail, highway, and aviation assets as engines for statewide growth,” Stimpson said. “I believe his talent for relationship building will make him a formidable business recruiter, leading to better jobs for our citizens.”

Tuberville’s I-65 and crime proposals

Tuberville’s campaign has made widening Interstate 65 a centerpiece of its platform. In the campaign’s “Back to Basics” playbook, Tuberville commits to making the widening the first line item in his first budget as governor, with a funded plan in year one for three lanes in each direction from the Tennessee state line to Mobile.

I-65 is the state’s primary north-south interstate, connecting Mobile with Montgomery, Birmingham and Decatur on its way to the Tennessee line, and it carries heavy freight and tourist traffic to and from the Gulf Coast.

Stimpson also pointed to public safety, an issue he dealt with directly during 12 years at Mobile City Hall.

“It’s been said before that the fundamental job of government is preserving public safety, and I can’t imagine a stronger ally for our military and law enforcement than Coach,” Stimpson wrote. “I know first hand the challenge that crime presents to so many of our communities, and I know that success will only be achieved through strong partnerships among local, state and federal agencies.”

Tuberville has promised to reduce violent crime in Alabama’s four largest cities by 20% before the end of his first term. Under his plan, the state would send troopers, investigators and other resources to work alongside local police in cities where violent crime is out of control, and those state resources would remain until the streets are safe.

Stimpson closed his piece with a direct comparison of the candidates.

“Of the two candidates, I believe that Coach Tuberville is the best choice for Governor at this time in our history. His experience, passion and love of Alabama have positioned him to lead, and his relationship skills should only accelerate our progress.”

Where Jones stands

Jones, the last Democrat to win a statewide race in Alabama, has campaigned on a different set of priorities. At campaign stops across the state, including a September visit to Thomasville in Clarke County, he has called for a one-year moratorium on new data center projects, expansion of Medicaid and a state lottery, and he has pledged to help reopen closed rural hospitals such as Thomasville’s. He has argued that state government needs to be more responsive to residents.

Tuberville, by contrast, has said Alabama should move aggressively to attract data centers and artificial intelligence investment, while pledging that residents would not pay more on their power bills because of such facilities.

What voters should know

The governor’s race tops a long general election ballot that also includes congressional races, legislative seats, other statewide offices, local races and several proposed constitutional amendments.

Election Day: Tuesday, Nov. 3
Poll hours: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. statewide
Identification: Alabama requires voters to show a valid photo ID at the polls.
Polling place: Voters can confirm their precinct and view a sample ballot through the Alabama Secretary of State’s office.

The winner of the governor’s race will take office in January, succeeding Ivey, who has served since 2017.