Dr. Will Boyd has officially entered the 2026 Alabama gubernatorial race as a Democratic candidate. Boyd, who resides in both Florence and Hoover, previously ran — and lost — numerous races in recent years.
Boyd currently resides in both Florence and Hoover. Originally from South Carolina, he began his professional career in manufacturing management roles across the United States and overseas.
A native of Florence, South Carolina, Boyd earned a B.S. in Engineering from the University of South Carolina and an MBA from Regis University, among additional doctorates in Religion, Psychology and Organizational Management.
RELATED: Alabama ‘looks like it’s a hate state,’ says Democrat U.S. Senate nominee Will Boyd
Boyd is also an author of three books and currently serves as Presiding Bishop of Zion Ministries and patriarch of the Holy Catholic Church International. He previously served on the Board of Directors for the Health Care Authority of Lauderdale County and the City of Florence.
Yet the cornerstone of Boyd’s political résumé is a string of defeats. He served one term on the city council of Greenville, Illinois but has been unsuccessful in all Alabama statewide contests:
-
He was the Democratic nominee for U.S. House (Alabama’s 5th District) in 2016—and lost.
-
In 2018, he won the Democratic primary for Lieutenant Governor but fell short in the general election—even in a lower‑tier statewide race.
-
In the 2022 U.S. Senate race, Boyd again secured the Democratic nomination but was trounced in the general election by Katie Britt, collecting just 30.9% of the vote to her 66.6%.
Despite these setbacks, Boyd is launching a new bid.
RELATED: Democratic Party U.S. Senate nominee Will Boyd claims ‘voter suppression’ in Alabama
His latest campaign platform highlights six priorities: economic development, educational equity, healthcare access, worker representation, environmental protection, and combating voter suppression.
Boyd faces several opponents in the May 19, 2026 Democratic primary election.
If successful, he is overwhelmingly expected to face U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) in the November 3, 2026 general election.
Austen Shipley is the News Director for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @ShipleyAusten
