SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — With U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville announcing his plans to run for Alabama governor in 2026, a new class of contenders is stepping forward to vie for his Senate seat — including Democrat Dakarai Larriett, a Birmingham native and first-time candidate who believes history can repeat itself.
“We did this in 2017,” Larriett said, referring to Doug Jones’ historic win over Roy Moore in a special Senate election. “The votes exist for people who want leaders they can be proud of — leaders that will fight for the right thing and not get tied up in partisan games” (AL.com).
Larriett is one of three Democrats currently running for the seat, alongside Kyle Sweetser, a Mobile businessman, and Mark Wheeler, a Heflin native and Jacksonville State University graduate. On the Republican side, candidates include Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall and former Navy SEAL Jared Hudson.
Larriett, a graduate of the University of Alabama and the Alabama School of Fine Arts, said his campaign is centered on education, job creation, civil rights, and supporting Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Speaking at a recent “Tide Against Trump” event hosted by College Democrats at UA, he emphasized that economic opportunity and access to education are what Alabamians care about most.
“Education and the economy — they’re so intertwined,” he told students. “These are the concerns that keep them up at night.”
A small business owner and Meals on Wheels driver, Larriett said he was inspired to run after experiencing what he described as an unjust arrest for DUI in Michigan last year — a charge that was later dropped.
“We have to have a justice system that works for everyone,” he said in a radio interview with Gary Richardson on WJLD. “I’m anxious to champion this cause and ensure that due process is a reality for all Americans.”
Larriett’s roots run deep in Alabama. Born at UAB Hospital, he said his parents are both Alabama State University alumni, and his father served in the U.S. Army. His personal and professional experiences, he said, give him the perspective to connect with voters across the state.
Despite Democrats’ struggles in Alabama — having only won one statewide race since 2008 — Larriett remains optimistic.
“I’ve always said you have to dream big,” he said. “I strongly believe that there are the votes out there.”
The primary election is set for May 19, 2026.
In related developments, U.S. Rep. Dale Strong (R-Monrovia) announced that he would not join the Senate race and instead seek re-election to his seat in Alabama’s 5th Congressional District.
“Representing north Alabama in Washington has been the most rewarding experience in my career of public service,” Strong said. “I truly believe I am where the Lord wants me” (AL.com).
Strong was elected to Congress in 2022, succeeding Mo Brooks, and has remained a loyal supporter of former President Donald Trump, much like Tuberville.
As Alabama prepares for a wide-open Senate race, Larriett and others hope to shift the political landscape — and prove that 2017 was not a fluke but a foundation.
