Alabama Insurance Agent Claims Tuberville Resides in Florida
An Alabama insurance agent, Ken McFeeters, who is vying for the governor’s seat, has raised questions about U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville’s eligibility for the position. McFeeters alleges that Tuberville does not meet the legal requirement of having resided in Alabama for at least seven years.
McFeeters filed his challenge on Tuesday with the Alabama Republican Party, asserting that Tuberville primarily resides in a multimillion-dollar beach home in Florida rather than the smaller residence he claims in Auburn, Alabama. In a phone interview, McFeeters expressed his skepticism about Tuberville’s sincerity, stating, “It’s belittling to the average person in Alabama for him to think we believe that he’s being sincere when he says he lives at his son’s $300,000 house when he’s got a $6 million beach house. Where would you live?”
Property tax records indicate that Tuberville owns a home in Auburn, valued at $291,780, where he claims a homestead exemption. In contrast, his beach home in Walton County, Florida, is valued at approximately $5.5 million. The Auburn residence was initially purchased by Tuberville’s wife and son in 2017, with Tuberville’s name added later, while his son’s name was removed. Both properties have recently been placed in a revocable trust with Tuberville’s wife as the trustee.
In his letter to party officials, McFeeters argued that the records suggest Tuberville may be using the Auburn address as a mere convenience rather than as his true domicile. He pointed out Tuberville’s frequent travels to the Florida Panhandle as further evidence of his primary residence.
Mallory Jaspers, a spokesperson for Tuberville, dismissed the challenge as a “ridiculous PR stunt from a desperate candidate.” She emphasized that Tuberville has represented Alabama in the U.S. Senate for six years and asserted that the Auburn home remains his primary residence.
Tuberville has faced similar accusations in the past, particularly during his Senate campaign, where opponents labeled him as “Florida man” or a “tourist in Alabama.” Notably, the residency requirements for the Senate are less stringent than those for the governor’s office.
Tuberville has stated that he believes he meets the residency requirement and that it will ultimately be up to the Republican Party to address any challenges. He expressed confidence in his standing, saying, “We checked it out. I wouldn’t be doing this if I thought it was a problem.”
Having served as the head football coach at Auburn University from 1999 to 2008, Tuberville later coached at Texas Tech and the University of Cincinnati before transitioning to a role at ESPN. In a promotional video for ESPN in 2017, he mentioned moving to Florida after retiring from coaching.
Notably, Tuberville voted in Florida in 2018 and registered to vote in Alabama on March 28, 2019, just weeks before announcing his Senate candidacy. Jeannie Burniston, a spokesperson for the Alabama Republican Party, indicated that challenges are reviewed by the party’s 21-member steering committee, which will determine if there is sufficient evidence for a hearing.
The Alabama Constitution states that the governor and lieutenant governor “shall have been citizens of the United States ten years and resident citizens of this state at least seven years next before the date of their election.” McFeeters emphasized the importance of the Republican Party taking this matter seriously, urging that Tuberville should provide clear evidence of his seven consecutive years of residency in Alabama.
Susan Pace Hamill, a professor at the University of Alabama School of Law, noted the vagueness of the residency requirement, suggesting it could be interpreted in various ways. However, she pointed out that Alabama’s culture and history support the notion that it should mean seven consecutive years of residency.
“Alabama’s culture is suspicious of outsiders, and historically, most of Alabama’s governors were born and raised in the state, often descended from generations of Alabamians,” Hamill remarked.
Copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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An Alabama insurance agent, Ken McFeeters, who is vying for the governor’s seat, has raised questions about U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville’s eligibility for the position. McFeeters alleges that Tuberville does not meet the legal requirement of having resided in Alabama for at least seven years.
McFeeters filed his challenge on Tuesday with the Alabama Republican Party, asserting that Tuberville primarily resides in a multimillion-dollar beach home in Florida rather than the smaller residence he claims in Auburn, Alabama. In a phone interview, McFeeters expressed his skepticism about Tuberville’s sincerity, stating, “It’s belittling to the average person in Alabama for him to think we believe that he’s being sincere when he says he lives at his son’s $300,000 house when he’s got a $6 million beach house. Where would you live?”
Property tax records indicate that Tuberville owns a home in Auburn, valued at $291,780, where he claims a homestead exemption. In contrast, his beach home in Walton County, Florida, is valued at approximately $5.5 million. The Auburn residence was initially purchased by Tuberville’s wife and son in 2017, with Tuberville’s name added later, while his son’s name was removed. Both properties have recently been placed in a revocable trust with Tuberville’s wife as the trustee.
In his letter to party officials, McFeeters argued that the records suggest Tuberville may be using the Auburn address as a mere convenience rather than as his true domicile. He pointed out Tuberville’s frequent travels to the Florida Panhandle as further evidence of his primary residence.
Mallory Jaspers, a spokesperson for Tuberville, dismissed the challenge as a “ridiculous PR stunt from a desperate candidate.” She emphasized that Tuberville has represented Alabama in the U.S. Senate for six years and asserted that the Auburn home remains his primary residence.
Tuberville has faced similar accusations in the past, particularly during his Senate campaign, where opponents labeled him as “Florida man” or a “tourist in Alabama.” Notably, the residency requirements for the Senate are less stringent than those for the governor’s office.
Tuberville has stated that he believes he meets the residency requirement and that it will ultimately be up to the Republican Party to address any challenges. He expressed confidence in his standing, saying, “We checked it out. I wouldn’t be doing this if I thought it was a problem.”
Having served as the head football coach at Auburn University from 1999 to 2008, Tuberville later coached at Texas Tech and the University of Cincinnati before transitioning to a role at ESPN. In a promotional video for ESPN in 2017, he mentioned moving to Florida after retiring from coaching.
Notably, Tuberville voted in Florida in 2018 and registered to vote in Alabama on March 28, 2019, just weeks before announcing his Senate candidacy. Jeannie Burniston, a spokesperson for the Alabama Republican Party, indicated that challenges are reviewed by the party’s 21-member steering committee, which will determine if there is sufficient evidence for a hearing.
The Alabama Constitution states that the governor and lieutenant governor “shall have been citizens of the United States ten years and resident citizens of this state at least seven years next before the date of their election.” McFeeters emphasized the importance of the Republican Party taking this matter seriously, urging that Tuberville should provide clear evidence of his seven consecutive years of residency in Alabama.
Susan Pace Hamill, a professor at the University of Alabama School of Law, noted the vagueness of the residency requirement, suggesting it could be interpreted in various ways. However, she pointed out that Alabama’s culture and history support the notion that it should mean seven consecutive years of residency.
“Alabama’s culture is suspicious of outsiders, and historically, most of Alabama’s governors were born and raised in the state, often descended from generations of Alabamians,” Hamill remarked.
Copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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