# Who is the governor of Alabama?

*Unofficial results from the November 3, 2026, general election show Republican Tommy Tuberville ahead of Democrat Doug Jones in the race for the office.*

- Type: Explainer
- Section: Politics
- By: Politics Desk
- Published: 2026-11-12T02:10:00-05:00
- Updated: 2026-11-12T02:10:00-05:00
- URL: https://factsdesk.com/politics/who-is-the-governor-of-alabama/

## Key facts

- Kay Ivey is the governor of Alabama. She became the 54th Governor of Alabama in 2017. Source: [Office of the Governor of Alabama](https://governor.alabama.gov/). Confirmed 2026-11-12T02:08:30-05:00. Cite: https://factsdesk.com/politics/who-is-the-governor-of-alabama/#kay-ivey-is-the-governor-of-alabama-she-became-the-54th
- Unofficial results for the 2026 general election for governor show Tommy Tuberville, a Republican, with 872,561 votes (51.79 percent) and Doug Jones, a Democrat, with 806,253 votes (47.86 percent). Source: [Alabama Secretary of State](https://www2.alabamavotes.gov/electionNight/statewideResultsByContest.aspx?ecode=1001305). Confirmed 2026-11-12T02:09:00-05:00. Cite: https://factsdesk.com/politics/who-is-the-governor-of-alabama/#unofficial-results-for-the-2026-general-election-for
- Ivey was sworn in as governor on April 10, 2017, was sworn in for her full term on January 14, 2019, and was sworn in again on January 16, 2023. Source: [Office of the Governor of Alabama](https://governor.alabama.gov/governor/). Confirmed 2026-11-12T02:08:45-05:00. Cite: https://factsdesk.com/politics/who-is-the-governor-of-alabama/#ivey-was-sworn-in-as-governor-on-april-10-2017-was-sworn-in
- Alabama held its 2026 general election on November 3, 2026. Source: [Alabama Secretary of State](https://www.sos.alabama.gov/alabama-votes/upcoming-elections). Confirmed 2026-11-12T02:09:00-05:00. Cite: https://factsdesk.com/politics/who-is-the-governor-of-alabama/#alabama-held-its-2026-general-election-on-november-3-2026

Kay Ivey is the governor of Alabama. The [governor's office](https://governor.alabama.gov/) says she became the 54th Governor of Alabama in 2017. The office was on the ballot in the general election that Alabama [held on November 3, 2026](https://www.sos.alabama.gov/alabama-votes/upcoming-elections), and the unofficial results show Republican Tommy Tuberville ahead of Democrat Doug Jones.

## What the 2026 election results for governor show

The Alabama Secretary of State's [unofficial election night results](https://www2.alabamavotes.gov/electionNight/statewideResultsByContest.aspx?ecode=1001305) for the 2026 general election show Tommy Tuberville with the most votes for governor. The page showed 67 of 67 counties reporting and was last updated on November 4, 2026, at 11:16 a.m.

| Candidate | Votes | Share |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tommy Tuberville (Republican) | 872,561 | 51.79 percent |
| Doug Jones (Democrat) | 806,253 | 47.86 percent |
| Write-in | 5,921 | 0.35 percent |

These numbers are not final. The same page says the election results it presents are unofficial.

## How long Kay Ivey has been governor

Ivey was sworn in as the 54th governor on April 10, 2017, according to her [official biography](https://governor.alabama.gov/governor/). The biography says voters elected her to a full term in November 2018 and that she was sworn in for that term on January 14, 2019. She was reelected to a second full term in November 2022 and was sworn in on January 16, 2023.

| Event | Date |
| --- | --- |
| Sworn in as the 54th governor | April 10, 2017 |
| Sworn in for her full term | January 14, 2019 |
| Sworn in for her second full term | January 16, 2023 |

## What Ivey did before she was governor

The [biography](https://governor.alabama.gov/governor/) says Ivey grew up in Camden, in Wilcox County, Alabama. It says she was elected State Treasurer in 2002 and Lieutenant Governor in 2010. Earlier, she served as Reading Clerk of the Alabama House of Representatives and as Assistant Director of the Alabama Development Office.

## Sources

1. [Office of the Governor of Alabama](https://governor.alabama.gov/), Office of the Governor of Alabama, 2026-11-12 (primary source)
2. [Governor Kay Ivey](https://governor.alabama.gov/governor/), Office of the Governor of Alabama, 2026-11-12 (primary source)
3. [2026 General Election Statewide Results, Unofficial Election Night Results](https://www2.alabamavotes.gov/electionNight/statewideResultsByContest.aspx?ecode=1001305), Alabama Secretary of State, 2026-11-04 (primary source)
4. [Upcoming Elections](https://www.sos.alabama.gov/alabama-votes/upcoming-elections), Alabama Secretary of State, 2026-11-12 (primary source)