U.S. Senator and Republican gubernatorial nominee Tommy Tuberville spoke to reporters in Orange Beach ahead of addressing the Gulf United Metro Business Organization (GUMBO) during a chairman's dinner on Wednesday, Oct. 7.

Tuberville, who said he has "made a lot of friends" in Baldwin County dating back to his initial Senate campaign in 2020, stressed the importance of the area amid tourism and rapid growth in recent years. Baldwin County ranking as the sixth-fastest growing metro area in the United States, according to data from the U.S. Census released in 2025.

"I've got a lot of good friends down here in business and manufacturing," Tuberville said. "Tourism down here is just off the charts and it's going to get even better. With commercial airlines last year, they told me that they brought 200,000 people here to Orange Beach and 85% of those head never been here before, which is what you want. First time people coming in having a good time."

Tuberville said he met with local mayors last spring and that he wants to help get them on the same page when it comes to growth and development within Baldwin County.

"My job is going to be giving advice, trying to get them together, the county commission together, mayors, the city councils and just put the best plan forward we can get and start with education, infrastructure and law enforcement," Tuberville said.

Tuberville, a former head football coach at Auburn University, vacated his U.S. Senate seat to run for governor in this year's general election, where he faces Democratic nominee Doug Jones. Both are seeking to succeed the term-limited Kay Ivey.

On statewide issues, when asked about school choice and potentially expanding eligibility, Tuberville largely voiced support for the current system under the CHOOSE Act, but said it could be evaluated as it goes along if elected governor.

"My belief is parents should have the opportunity," Tuberville said. "If they live in a school district that they don't believe is doing what's right for their kids, they should be able to go to whatever school works. Public schools, private schools. They pay taxes and I think at the end of the day, it'll all be evaluated. I like the way it's going right now. After the first year or so, it's escalated, and I'm all for that. I'm all for any kid parents think that their kids can get a better education somewhere else. Give them a $7-to-8,000 voucher, but at the end of the day, it'll start leveling out."

When asked about the potential of a state lottery, Tuberville said that it should be up to the people of Alabama to decide, but said he would sign off on legislation involving a state lottery if it were to reach his desk.

"I'm not a gambler but everywhere I go, everybody wants it to come," Tuberville said. "Governor has nothing to do with it. State legislature is going to have to put it on the ballot and we need to let people vote for it. I want to do it early because I don't want anybody complaining 'Well, can we do this or that?' I think the legislature has to get it done and let the people vote on it, and if it passes, it passes, and if it doesn't, it doesn't. That way, we don't have any complaints about it. I guess you have to sign off on it at the end of the day. I'd sign off for it if the people voted it in, but let's let them do it. Let's not play dictators."

The general election is on Nov. 3.