Doug Jones is a former U.S. Senator (2018-2021) and career prosecutor who is the last Democrat to win statewide office in Alabama. He is best known for securing convictions against KKK members Thomas Edwin Blanton Jr. and Bobby Frank Cherry for the 1963 16th Street Baptist Church bombing. Jones launched his gubernatorial campaign in November 2025, setting up a potential rematch with Tommy Tuberville, who defeated him in the 2020 Senate race by 20 points. Despite losing that race despite outspending Tuberville 3-to-1, Jones is running again as the highest-profile Democrat in a deeply red state.
Doug Jones was born and raised in Alabama. He is a lawyer and former U.S. Attorney who served in that capacity from 1997-2001 and 2009-2017. He gained national prominence for prosecuting KKK members for the 1963 church bombing. Jones was elected to the U.S. Senate in a special election in December 2017 by defeating Republican Roy Moore (who faced accusations of sexual misconduct). He served one term (2018-2021), losing re-election to Tommy Tuberville. After his Senate defeat, Jones worked with the Biden administration on judicial confirmations.