PHENIX CITY, Ala. - Republican Tommy Tuberville won Alabama's governor's race on Nov. 3, defeating Democrat Doug Jones 872,445 votes to 803,468 in the Associated Press count reported by WTVM. The totals work out to about 52.1% for Tuberville and 47.9% for Jones, a margin of roughly 69,000 votes. All results in this report are unofficial, and provisional ballots could still change counts.

The AP declared Tuberville the winner shortly before 12:45 a.m. Eastern on Wednesday, Nov. 4, and Jones conceded that morning, WTVM reported. Tuberville will be Alabama's 55th governor, according to his campaign. He succeeds term-limited Gov. Kay Ivey, who has served 10 years.

The governor's race

Tuberville, a former head football coach at Auburn University and other colleges, has served in the U.S. Senate since 2021, according to WTVM. He chose not to seek re-election to the Senate, which leaves that seat open. He claimed victory at a Tuesday night event in Auburn before the AP call, WTVM reported.

Jones, who served as a U.S. senator from 2018 to 2021, said in his concession statement that it was the closest Alabama governor's race since 2002. He thanked the more than 800,000 voters who supported him and urged Alabamians to "stay involved." Tuberville said, "Our best days are ahead of us," and his campaign listed priorities of boosting the economy, making life more affordable, getting criminals off the streets, improving schools and eliminating waste in Montgomery.

WTVM also reported that Tuberville defeated Ken McFeeters and Will Santivasci for the Republican nomination. Lawsuits claimed he did not meet the state's residency requirements, but the Alabama Supreme Court dismissed the final claim over the summer. He did not debate Jones, according to the station.

Races on the same ballot

Republican Rep. Barry Moore won the open U.S. Senate seat over Democrat Everett Wess. The AP called the race at 11:17 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday, with Moore leading 55.5% to 44.5% and about 86% of the vote counted at that point, according to Yahoo News' AP-based live results. Final totals were not available to this report.

In the 2nd Congressional District, Democratic Rep. Shomari Figures won re-election over Republican Rhett Marques, WTVM reported. The AP-based live results showed Figures with 53.8% when about 92% of the vote was counted. Russell County is among the counties listed for the district on the district's Wikipedia page, though this report did not verify the current map independently.

The district's boundaries were the subject of a court and legislative fight, WTVM reported. A 2023 map was challenged, and on June 2 the U.S. Supreme Court lifted a lower court order that had blocked it. Marques conceded and congratulated Figures, saying, "My family will pray for all of the people who win tonight because the leaders are chosen by God."

Russell County: Amendment 1 and a local House race

Alabama voters decided four state constitutional amendments, according to WTVM. Amendment 1, titled "Fill Lieutenant Governor Vacancies by Election," passed statewide and in Russell County in unofficial Secretary of State returns compiled by the Alabama Reporter as of 1:28 a.m. Central on Nov. 5. All 67 counties had reported at that time.

About 1.51 million votes were cast on the measure statewide, and 1,693,621 ballots were counted overall, according to the Alabama Reporter. The page does not explain how the amendment would work beyond its title. This report did not review the amendment's text.

In Alabama House District 80, Republican incumbent Chris Blackshear defeated Manfred Malone, who chairs the Russell County Democrats, WTVM reported. Malone had said many in the district were unhappy with the Supreme Court-approved congressional map, adding that "we believe it's the people who pick the politicians." This report did not find vote totals for the House race.

School taxes in Phenix City and Russell County

Phenix City and Russell County school tax renewals passed Nov. 3 with about 54% of the vote, WTVM reported, after the tax failed in the May primary. The renewals were unofficial results at the time of the report. The Columbus Times reported on the 4-mill and 4.5-mill renewals in earlier coverage.

What is not yet known

This report could not find Russell County vote totals for the governor's race, the U.S. Senate race or the 2nd District race. County totals will appear in the official canvass, and the Alabama Secretary of State's website posts results by county. The lieutenant governor's race, in which Republican John Wahl led Democrat Phil Ensler in the AP's Tuesday night count, was not finalized in the sources reviewed.

Ivey's term ends in January 2027, according to published reports. The date Tuberville will take the oath has not been confirmed in the sources reviewed. Readers can check the Alabama Secretary of State's office for certified results and the inauguration schedule.