Tommy Tuberville, the former head coach of the Texas Tech Red Raiders, announced on Saturday he will enter the U.S. Senate race in Alabama as a Republican.
Tuberville made the official announcement on Twitter.
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
According to The Associated Press, he is the second Republican running for the seat currently held by Democrat Doug Jones.
Jones, a former U.S. attorney, defeated ex-state Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore in a special election in 2017 after Moore was accused of sexual misconduct with teenagers. He denied the allegations.
CBSSports.com reports former Trump press secretary Sean Spicer is working on Tuberville’s campaign.
The seat was previously held by former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
Tuberville, a native of Arkansas, 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.
He was the head football coach of the Texas Tech Red Raiders from 2010-2012.
