Dr. Will Boyd Enters 2026 Alabama Governor’s Race

Dr. Will Boyd has officially announced his candidacy as a Democratic contender in the upcoming 2026 Alabama Governor’s race. Split between Florence and Hoover, Boyd has previously made attempts to secure political office, though not with much success.

Originally hailing from South Carolina, he began his career in manufacturing management—both domestically and internationally. Boyd earned his Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from the University of South Carolina, later attaining an MBA from Regis University, along with multiple doctorates in fields like religion, psychology, and organizational management.

Boyd serves as the bishop of Zion and the patriarch of the International St. Catholic Church, and has penned three books. Additionally, he has contributed to local governance, having been a member of the boards for Health Care in Lauderdale County and in Florence City.

However, Boyd’s political journey is marked mainly by defeats. For instance, he served for one semester on the Greenville City Council in Illinois but faced setbacks in his campaigns across Alabama.

• In 2016, he ran for the US House (Alabama District 5) but lost.
• Boyd won the Democratic primary for Deputy Governor in 2018 but fell short in the general election.
• Most recently, during the 2022 US Senate race, he again secured a Democratic nomination but was defeated by Katie Britt, garnering only 30.9% of the votes to her 66.6%.

Despite these challenges, Boyd is pressing forward with a renewed campaign.

His latest platform outlines six main areas of focus: fostering economic development, ensuring educational equity, improving health access, bolstering worker representation, prioritizing environmental protection, and combating voter suppression.

Boyd is set to face several challengers in the Democratic primary scheduled for May 19, 2026. Should he succeed, he would likely confront incumbent US Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) in the general election on November 3, 2026.