Former Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron will no longer be seeking the Republican nomination for the lieutenant governor seat in 2026.
In a press release on Wednesday announcing the decision, McCarron said he was stopping his campaign to accept a “new career opportunity” in football that will require his full focus. McCarron said details about his new football position will be made public later this week.
“With a double-digit lead in the polls and solid fundraising lined up, I was eager to bring a fresh voice and new leadership to the Alabama State House, but football is calling my name again,” McCarron said in a statement.
McCarron entered the race in October. His campaign page cites the death of political activist Charlie Kirk as a motivating factor in McCarron’s decision to “get off of the sidelines and get into the game.”
He did not rule out a return to the political sphere in the future, saying he could “return to the political playing field once my career on the football field has truly run its course.”
According to a report from the AP, McCarron first registered to vote in the state of Alabama days before announcing his candidacy. He also endorsed former Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville for governor of Alabama while claiming a need for “political newcomers” and “conservative outsider candidates” to enter politics.
McCarron led Alabama to national championships in 2011 and 2012. He finished second for the Heisman Trophy in 2013 and was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He appeared in 19 games across 7 seasons in the NFL.
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
