The Alabama Constitution says an individual must have lived in the state seven years, in order to be eligible to run for Governor. On July 21, the Alabama Supreme Court expedited the lawsuit State ex rel Dorgan v Tuberville, SC-2026-0540. The voters who brought the lawsuit argue that Tuberville does not meet the residency requirement. He is currently a U.S. Senator representing Alabama, although for years critics have charged that he lives in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida.

The lower state court had not made a decision about Tuberville’s residency. Instead it said this type of lawsuit cannot be brought, and the issue could only be litigated after the challenged candidate had been elected. See this story.