
Chad Chig Martin
Alabama Democratic Governor nominee?
Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleBusiness owner
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyModerate Democrat
LocationAlabama
BackgroundBusiness owner
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EducationEnterprise High School (graduated 1986)
Notable personal detailsChad “Chig” Martin is an Alabama business owner and Democratic candidate for governor in the 2026 election cycle. He previously ran for governor in 2022 and earlier sought the office as an independent candidate. His campaign platform has emphasized education and economic development, including proposals tied to lotteries and expanded entertainment and gaming zones.
SourcesShowHide
Positions
Economy & Taxes
Supports raising and redirecting state revenue through mechanisms such as a state education lottery and taxing legalized cannabis, favors expanding Medicaid and investing in infrastructure and economic development in underserved areas, and would temporarily suspend the gas tax during high prices while retaining it for road funding.
Healthcare
Supports expanding Medicaid and increasing access to care through rural health hubs and school-based health services; favors expanding coverage for natural/naturopathic treatment options and broader access to healthcare services. Emphasizes patient choice and reducing barriers to care while proposing state investments to strengthen healthcare access in underserved areas.
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Abortion & Reproductive Rights
The candidate supports reproductive decision-making by patients and families and says the state should not interfere in private medical decisions; he expresses personal pro-life sentiment but indicates respect for others’ control over their bodies and for decisions in cases such as rape or incest.
Climate & Energy
Supports strengthening and enforcing pollution and dumping regulations, funding state regulatory agencies for better monitoring, and promoting sustainable industry growth and infrastructure investment to revitalize agriculture and rural areas. Emphasizes attracting clean and high-tech industries and investing in infrastructure such as wastewater management and broadband as part of economic development.
Public Safety & Guns
Chad “Chig” Martin emphasizes strong protection of Second Amendment rights and favors policies that make it easier for law-abiding citizens to use justified deadly force in defense of home, family, or property. He has called for swift law-enforcement investigations in such cases and opposes burdensome legal processes for lawful gun owners. His campaign materials and past statements focus on defending gun rights rather than proposing new firearm restrictions.
News
Chad Chig Martin is in the news as a candidate in Alabama’s gubernatorial primary, which state officials say will go ahead unchanged on May 19 despite redistricting-related changes elsewhere. The main update is that the election schedule remains in place, with a runoff set for June 16 if needed. The broader news around him is about Alabama’s redistricting fight, but the summaries do not show any specific new action or statement from Martin himself.
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Polls
- Endorsements
- Fundraising




