Tommy Tuberville is a Republican U.S. senator for Alabama, serving since January 2021. Before entering politics, he coached college football, including head-coaching posts at Auburn University, Texas Tech University and the University of Cincinnati. He is running for governor of Alabama in 2026.
We have documented statements by Tommy Tuberville on 2026 Midterm Elections, Abortion, and Health Care, among other topics. Read the quotations, original sources and related cases below.
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Role at the time: U.S. senator and Republican nominee for Alabama governor, through campaign communications director Mallory Jaspers, in an email to Blaze News
Defended or excused
Statement summary
Tuberville's campaign, through communications director Mallory Jaspers, told Blaze News that the Airline Furries Association International, while not affiliated with any airline and not an official union, is an online hub for people who work in the airline industry and are furries. Blaze News reported that her comments appeared to confirm the group is the one Tuberville had in mind.
“The Airline Furries Association International, while not affiliated with any airline and not an official union, is an online hub for people who work in the airline industry and are furries.”
Open source (opens in a new tab)'Furries' flying the plane? The truth behind Sen. Tuberville's viral clip about this 'deranged fetish'McHenry's quotes near the end of the article; Mallory Jaspers's quote in the fourth paragraph
Why we used this label
The case asks whether there is evidence for Tuberville's claim. Speaking for his campaign, Jaspers named the Airline Furries Association International as the group Tuberville had in mind and described it as a hub for airline workers who are furries, offering it as evidentiary support for his claim. That defends the claim rather than narrowing or disputing it, matching how his own restatements of the claim are labeled in this case.
Role at the time: U.S. senator and Republican nominee for Alabama governor, answering a reporter's questions at the Capitol
Defended or excused
Statement summary
Asked by TMZ DC at the Capitol how he knows that pilots are furries, Sen. Tommy Tuberville said some, not all, are, and that "They have a club. They have an organization". Asked whether it matters if a pilot is good, he called it "some part of mental illness that could be a catastrophe".
“Some, not all.
…
They have a club. They have an organization.
…
they had a section of airline pilots
…
Well, I don't want somebody flying me that's behind the scenes that they think they're an animal.
…
It's some part of mental illness that could be a catastrophe.”
Read the original post (opens in a new tab)TMZ DC's Jacob Wasserman on X: video of Sen. Tuberville answering questions at the Capitol · TMZ2 min 10 s video; Tuberville's answers begin at about 0:17, published Sept. 24, 2026, 21:08 UTC
Why we used this label
The reference point is Tuberville's claim that many airline pilots, flight attendants and air traffic controllers are furries and a flight-safety risk. Asked how he knows, he says furry pilots "have a club", and he calls furry participation "some part of mental illness that could be a catastrophe". He narrows the claim to some pilots rather than many, but he reasserts the safety concern, so it still supports the claim rather than making his position mixed.
Role at the time: U.S. senator and Republican nominee for Alabama governor, posting on his official X account
Defended or excused
Response to this claim
Airline pilots, flight attendants and air traffic controllers who take part in furry culture are a flight-safety risk.
“Just a few weeks ago at the “Furry Migration” convention in Minneapolis, there was an “Aviation Furs Meet-up.”
Ask yourself… would you be comfortable with a MENTALLY ILL FURRY being your pilot?”
Read the original post (opens in a new tab)Sen. Tommy Tuberville on X: "Aviation Furs Meet-up" at the Furry Migration convention · Tommy TubervilleFull X post with link to the Furry Migration schedule, published Sept. 24, 2026, 16:25 UTC
Why we used this label
The reference point is Tuberville's claim that many airline pilots, flight attendants and air traffic controllers are furries and a flight-safety risk. He cites a convention's aviation meet-up as support and asks whether readers would be comfortable with a "MENTALLY ILL FURRY being your pilot", which endorses the safety-risk claim; no competing label fits.
Role at the time: U.S. senator and Republican nominee for Alabama governor, posting on his official X account
Defended or excused
Response to this claim
Many airline pilots, flight attendants and air traffic controllers are part of the furry community.
“I know the deranged Democrats don’t like the fact that I called out the insane FURRY CULTURE this week.
But the truth is, there is an ALARMING number of these DERANGED people working in our airline industry.
Don’t believe me? Just a few months ago, PILOTS were MEOWING and BARKING at each other over the radio at DCA.”
Read the original post (opens in a new tab)Sen. Tommy Tuberville on X: "I know the deranged Democrats don't like the fact that I called out the insane FURRY CULTURE this week" · Tommy TubervilleFull X post with 25-second video, published Sept. 24, 2026, 15:15 UTC
Why we used this label
The reference point is Tuberville's claim that many airline pilots, flight attendants and air traffic controllers are furries and a flight-safety risk. In his own post he asserts an "ALARMING number" of "DERANGED" furry airline workers and cites the radio clip as support, which endorses the claim; no competing label fits because he neither qualifies nor retreats from it.
Tommy Tuberville voted nay on H.Con.Res. 89, a vote against directing the removal of U.S. forces from unauthorized hostilities with Iran.
“On the Concurrent Resolution H.Con.Res. 89: A concurrent resolution directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran.”
Voted against directing the removal of U.S. forces from unauthorized hostilities with Iran, a vote to let U.S. involvement continue without congressional authorization.
Role at the time: U.S. senator from Alabama and Republican nominee for governor, at a Huntsville media availability
Mixed or conditional
Statement summary
Tuberville said Flock cameras are very beneficial if controlled but not worth it if used the wrong way, and that a tool this powerful needs rules written by Alabamians, not a tech company.
“If you can control the Flock cameras, my thoughts would be they're very beneficial. But if you're not going to use them the right way ... I don't think it's worth it.”
Open source (opens in a new tab)Tuberville weighs in on Flock camera debate: Support law enforcement, protect privacyQuotes from Huntsville media availability and statement provided to Yellowhammer News
Why we used this label
The reference point is whether networked license-plate reader systems such as Flock should exist and be used. Tuberville said the cameras are beneficial if controlled and not worth it otherwise, and asked for state-written rules. Support conditioned on general controls fits Mixed or conditional on the guardrails step.
Role at the time: U.S. senator from Alabama and Republican nominee for governor
Mixed or conditional
Statement summary
Senator Tommy Tuberville said police should keep the tools they need, but argued that Alabama, not a technology company, should write the rules for the cameras.
“I back our law enforcement one hundred percent, and I want them to have every tool they need to catch criminals and bring people home safe. But I understand why some Alabamians have real privacy concerns about these cameras. A tool this powerful needs rules written by Alabamians, not by a tech company in Atlanta. We should be able to track and prosecute criminals while protecting our citizens.”
Open source (opens in a new tab)Tuberville weighs in on Flock camera debate: Support law enforcement, protect privacyStatement provided to Yellowhammer News, paragraph beginning I back our law enforcement
Why we used this label
Tuberville supports law enforcement use of the cameras and acknowledges privacy concerns. He asks for state-written rules rather than a ban or a funding cut.
Hegseth confirmed a 20% reduction in general and admiral positions, with a January 1, 2027 deadline. He defended the changes as accountability; senators questioned their military justification and scope.
Sen. Tommy Tuberville says many airline pilots, flight attendants and air traffic controllers are furries and a flight-safety risk. Critics, including Doug Jones and a flight attendants' union, criticized the remarks; the Montgomery Advertiser and Forbes report he gave no source or data.
Networked automated license-plate cameras can assemble searchable records of vehicle movements. Candidates and officials disagree over whether to ban the systems, keep them with limits, or defend them as investigative tools. This tracker separates outright bans from narrower restrictions.
Senator Josh Hawley wants Congress to revoke the FDA's approval of mifepristone and ban the abortion pill nationally. His bill has stalled in committee, and in September he began pressing Republicans to sign a pledge backing it.
An issue tracker recording where members of Congress and 2026 midterm candidates stand on the unauthorized Iran war, based on their votes on war-powers resolutions, campaign statements, and public remarks.
