Alabama GOP Residency Challenge Sparks Court Controversy in Governor’s Race; Court Failed To Notify Plaintiff of Hearing

Covington County, AL (BuzzReport)—A growing political and legal battle is unfolding in Alabama after State Rep. Ken McFeeters publicly accused the Alabama Republican Party and the court system of withholding notice about a key hearing tied to a constitutional challenge against U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville and his campaign for governor.

McFeeters, who is also running for governor, says he learned through media reports — not through official court communication — that a hearing had been scheduled for this Thursday regarding his motion demanding an emergency jury trial over Tuberville’s eligibility to seek the governor’s office.

According to McFeeters, the motion was filed seven weeks ago and sought an “immediate and emergency trial by jury” to determine whether Tuberville meets Alabama’s constitutional residency requirements before the Republican primary election.

Under Alabama law, gubernatorial candidates are required to have resided in the state for at least seven years prior to taking office. Questions surrounding Tuberville’s residency have circulated for months as the former football coach and current senator continues building support in what is expected to become one of the state’s most closely watched political races.

In a sharply worded public statement, McFeeters expressed frustration over what he described as silence from the courts after filing the motion.

“I have literally heard nothing. Crickets,” McFeeters said.

The gubernatorial candidate stated that he only became aware of recent court developments after reading reporting from Lagniappe Daily journalist Scott Johnson. According to McFeeters, the Alabama Republican Party filed a motion to dismiss the case Tuesday, and the court then scheduled a hearing just two days later.

McFeeters claims he was never formally notified.

The situation has fueled accusations from the candidate that political insiders may be exerting influence over the judicial process.

“The ALGOP is saying politicians and not the people get to decide what is and what is not constitutional,” McFeeters stated.

He also questioned why proving residency should be difficult if Tuberville fully meets constitutional requirements.

“Wouldn’t it be much easier just to prove to the people of Alabama that you’ve lived in Alabama for the last seven years?” McFeeters asked.

The controversy adds another layer of tension to Alabama’s already heated political climate, where questions over congressional maps, voting rights, and party control have dominated headlines in recent months.

Neither the Alabama Republican Party nor Tuberville’s campaign has publicly responded to McFeeters’ latest accusations as of Wednesday evening.

The upcoming court hearing could become a pivotal moment in determining whether challenges to candidate qualifications will be decided through the courts or handled internally by party officials ahead of the Republican primary.