In something of a stunner from the normally stolid, Republican state of Alabama, a new poll examining attitudes amongst the state’s Republican voters has found that a new candidate appears to be edging his way to the very top of the list as voters consider who to support in the 2026 GOP primary.
That new candidate is former Navy SEAL Jared Hudson, and the poll, which was conducted by Quantus Insights, found that, amongst the 1,050 registered Republican primary voters who were polled, a notable lead of 27 percent. The closest competitor to the former Navy SEAL is Attorney General Steve Marshall, who is polling at 24 percent.
Other than Alabama AG Marshall, the other candidates are well in the dust behind Mr. Hudson, Quantus found. For example, the closest other competitor is Congressman Barry Moore, who is well behind at just 9 percent. The remainder of the candidates are still polling in the low single digits.
However, there is still a great deal of uncertainty in the race, Quantus also found: a whopping plurality of 36 percent of the voters polled are still undecided, signaling that the race is only beginning to shape up. However, as it currently stands, Hudson’s rise signals that something of a change and realignment could be coming to Alabama’s Republican Party, and thus its politics.
That is because Mr. Hudson is something of an outsider candidate, with a very different background: while the others are parts of the state party machine and are longtime members of the more Establishment GOP apparatus. AG Marshall, Hudson’s closest competitor, is a prime example: while also respected and generally liked for his law and order stance as AG, he is also a longtime party loyalist and appears to mainly appeal to that crowd.
By contrast, Hudson’s main appeal in the Senate race is his service-driven message, as a former Navy SEAL whose background and life history show his dedication to serving his country and doing his duty, not engaging in the constant compromise and horse trading of party politics. As many voters, particularly MAGA voters, are frustrated with the poor state of results delivered by party politics, that authenticity and service message is very appealing.
Such is what Quantus found as well: according to those more than a thousand Republican voters polled, about a third said that a military or law enforcement background is the best preparation a candidate can have for the Senate, much more so than any other potential qualification or record as a career politician. That is very good news for Hudson, whose main selling point is his record of service.
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The state’s gubernatorial race is already somewhat more settled, Quantus found: current Sen. Tommy Tuberville is the leading candidate by a very wide market, currently holding a massive 63 percent support. His challenger, Ken McFeeters, holds just 4 percent, and most of the remainder, 22 percent, are undecided.
Still, the race for the lieutenant governor position is, like the senate seat, mostly undecided but leaning one way: Wes Allen leads at 26 percent, and the closest competitor to him is A.J. McCarron at 14 percent. The other main candidate is John Merrill, who holds 10 percent, and a large 36 percent are undecided.