HOOVER, Ala. (AP) — U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama has long faced accusations of living in Florida rather than the state he represents in Washington. Now he is being confronted with the same claims as he runs for governor. Alabama Republican Party leaders are scheduled to meet Sunday in a closed-door hearing to determine if he has lived in the state long enough to lead it. Tuberville’s former primary opponent, Ken McFeeters, filed a challenge arguing that Tuberville does not meet the Alabama Constitution’s seven-year residency requirement.“Does he live in Alabama? No,” McFeeters said. “He doesn’t live here.”Tuberville, who easily defeated McFeeters in last month’s primary and has been endorsed by President Donald Trump, has called the challenge a joke and said he meets the requirement to serve. “We’re happy to put the residency issue to bed,” campaign chairman Jordan Doufexis said earlier this month. He added that “it’s time to provide the facts and move on.”
Property tax records show Tuberville and his wife own a beach home in Florida valued at $5.6 million. His campaign has said his residence is a home in Auburn. The 1,551-square-foot property has an appraised value of about $291,780.
