Former University of Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron announced he is running for Alabama lieutenant governor, saying the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk motivated him to enter politics. McCarron, a two-time national champion, is positioning himself as a conservative outsider in a crowded Republican primary.
AJ McCarron, who led the Crimson Tide to back-to-back BCS national titles in the 2011 and 2012 seasons (championship games played in January 2012 and 2013), announced his 2026 bid for Alabama lieutenant governor on Thursday. In his announcement, he said Charlie Kirk’s killing spurred him to act. “Alabama’s conservative and cultural values are under attack from every direction,” McCarron said. “That’s why Charlie Kirk’s assassination affected so many of us so deeply. His example convinced me to get off of the sidelines, get into the game, and stand tall for our conservative beliefs.”
McCarron, 35, was drafted in the fifth round by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2014 and spent time with the Bengals before stints with the Oakland Raiders, Houston Texans and Atlanta Falcons. More recently, he started at quarterback for the St. Louis Battlehawks in the United Football League. He publicly endorsed Donald Trump in 2016 and has worked as a college football analyst. He and his wife, Katherine Webb McCarron — Miss Alabama USA in 2012 — co-own McCarron Real Estate and live in Mobile with their three sons.
The campaign launch comes as sports figures continue to migrate into Alabama politics. Earlier this year, U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville — a former Auburn head football coach — announced he is running for governor in 2026. McCarron cast himself as an ally, saying, “The Montgomery insiders and career politicians have had their chance. It’s time for political newcomers and outsider candidates like me to lead the battle. When Coach Tuberville is governor, I’ll be the quarterback who helps pass his conservative outsider agenda.”
McCarron joins a Republican field that, according to the Associated Press and local outlets, includes Secretary of State Wes Allen, Agriculture Commissioner Rick Pate, pastor Dean Odle and businessperson Nicole Jones Wadsworth. The party primaries are scheduled for May 19, 2026.
