Kay Ivey. That's the short answer. She’s the one currently sitting in the governor’s mansion in Montgomery, and honestly, she has been there for a hot minute. Since 2017, to be exact. But if you’re asking who is governor of Alabama because you're trying to figure out if she's still in charge or who is coming next, things are starting to get a little bit more interesting. We are officially in an election year.
Ivey is the 54th governor of the state. She didn't actually start the job by getting elected to it; she moved up from lieutenant governor when Robert Bentley resigned after a whole mess of campaign finance issues. Since then, she’s won two full terms on her own. She’s a Republican, obviously—this is Alabama—and she’s built a reputation on being a "no-nonsense" conservative grandma figure who talks a lot about jobs and "steadying the ship."
The Term Limit Situation
Here is the thing you gotta realize: Ivey is "termed out." In Alabama, you can only serve two consecutive four-year terms. Because she was elected in 2018 and again in 2022, she can't run again this year. Her current term ends on January 18, 2027. So, while she is the governor right now, her time is basically winding down. She just gave her final "State of the State" address on January 13, 2026, which felt like a bit of a victory lap for her.
Why Who is Governor of Alabama Matters Right Now
The seat is going to be wide open soon. That doesn't happen often. Usually, an incumbent has a massive advantage, but with Ivey hitting the exit, every ambitious politician in the state is looking at that office.
When people ask who is governor of Alabama, they are often really asking about the 2026 election. The primary is coming up fast—May 19, 2026. If nobody gets more than 50%, there's a runoff on June 16. The big show, the general election, is November 3.
📖 Related: King Five Breaking News: What You Missed in Seattle This Week
The Big Names in the Running
Honestly, the Republican side is where the real fight is. Since Alabama is so deeply red, whoever wins the GOP primary is probably going to be the next governor.
- Tommy Tuberville: Yeah, the Senator and former Auburn coach. He’s been making some noise about coming back home to be governor. Some people love him, some people think he should stay in D.C., but his name recognition is through the roof.
- Will Ainsworth: He’s the current Lieutenant Governor. He’s young, he’s aggressive, and he’s been positioning himself as the heir apparent to Ivey for years. He talks a lot about education and school choice.
- Steve Marshall: The Attorney General. He’s been the one leading the charge on a lot of the legal battles involving the state, from abortion laws to fighting federal mandates.
On the Democratic side, you’ve got Doug Jones, the former U.S. Senator who beat Roy Moore back in the day. He’s got the biggest war chest for the Democrats, but it’s a steep uphill climb in this state. Other names like Will Boyd are also in the mix, focusing heavily on healthcare.
Kay Ivey’s Legacy: What’s She Actually Done?
You can't talk about who holds the office without looking at what they’ve actually done with it. Ivey’s tenure has been pretty eventful.
She’s overseen a period where Alabama hit some of its lowest unemployment rates ever. She’s been huge on bringing in "new capital investment"—which is basically fancy talk for getting big companies like Mazda Toyota and Airbus to build or expand factories here. She also pushed through a gas tax increase to fix roads and bridges, which wasn't exactly popular with everyone but was desperately needed.
👉 See also: Kaitlin Marie Armstrong: Why That 2022 Search Trend Still Haunts the News
The Controversies
It hasn't all been smooth sailing, though. Her administration has dealt with a massive federal lawsuit over the state of Alabama's prisons, which are famously overcrowded and violent. She also signed some of the strictest abortion bans in the country, which made her a hero to some and a villain to others. More recently, she had to navigate the fallout of the IVF ruling from the state Supreme Court, eventually signing a law to protect clinics so they could stay open.
"Today is both a dark day for Alabama yet also one of opportunity."
That was what she said back in 2017 when she first took over. Looking back, she definitely succeeded in "steadying the ship" compared to the chaos of the Bentley years, but the state still faces those same old problems: poverty in the Black Belt, struggling rural hospitals, and a prison system that the feds are still breathing down her neck about.
Practical Steps for Alabama Voters
Since the question of who is governor of Alabama is about to change, you should probably know what to do if you live here.
✨ Don't miss: Jersey City Shooting Today: What Really Happened on the Ground
- Check your registration. The deadline to register for the primary is May 4, 2026. Don't wait until the last minute because the system always gets bogged down.
- Look at the platforms. Don't just vote for the name you recognize from the football field or the TV news. Look at what they say about the Education Trust Fund and how they plan to handle the prison crisis.
- Know the dates. May 19 is the primary. If you're a Republican or a Democrat, that’s when you pick your champion.
The next year is going to be full of attack ads and campaign rallies. Whether you like Kay Ivey or not, her departure marks the end of an era in Alabama politics. The "open field" means things might get a little messy before they get settled.
Keep an eye on the Secretary of State's website for the most current list of qualified candidates as the filing deadlines pass. This isn't just about a name on a door in Montgomery; it's about who decides how your tax money is spent on schools and roads for the next four years.
Actionable Insight: If you plan to vote in the upcoming May primary, verify your registration status through the Alabama Secretary of State's "Vote Alabama" portal at least 30 days before the election to ensure no issues with your polling location.