Will Boyd Announces Campaign for Alabama Governor in 2026 Democratic Primary

Will Boyd, shown here during his 2018 campaign for the U.S. Senate, is running for governor of Alabama. (Jake Crandall/The Montgomery Advertiser via AP)

TWLN Staff Writer | The Weekly Ledger News | State News

FLORENCE, Ala. —Will Boyd, a longtime Democratic candidate and pastor from Florence, has announced that he will seek the Democratic nomination for governor of Alabama in the 2026 election.

Boyd serves as pastor of St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church in Florence and holds leadership roles in several organizations, according to his campaign website. He has previously appeared on statewide ballots three times in the past decade.

Boyd was the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2022, where he was defeated in the general election by Republican Katie Britt, receiving 31 percent of the vote. He also ran as the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor in 2018 and as the Democratic nominee in Alabama’s 5th Congressional District in 2016.

His prior election results highlight the challenges Democrats have historically faced in statewide races in Alabama. No Democrat has been elected governor since Don Siegelman in 1998, and Democrats have not won a statewide office since 2017.

Boyd said his previous campaigns helped build name recognition and gave him opportunities to meet residents across the state and listen to their concerns. On his campaign website, he outlines priorities that include the economy, education, health care, and environmental policy. He has voiced support for Medicaid expansion and measures intended to address climate change.

Boyd was born in Florence, South Carolina, and holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering from the University of South Carolina. His website states that he also holds an MBA from Regis University, a PhD in religion from Christian Bible College, and additional academic degrees.

The Alabama Statewide Primary Election will be held May 19, 2026. The Primary Runoff Election is June 16, 2026, and the General Election is scheduled for November 3, 2026.

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