BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Democrat Dakarai Larriett formally launched his campaign April 7, 2025, to run for the U.S. Senate seat that will open when incumbent Republican Tommy Tuberville vacates it to seek the governorship in 2026.
Larriett, 43, is a Birmingham native who earned a bachelor’s degree in business and economics from University of Alabama and later worked in corporate supply-chain roles with major companies. He eventually founded his own business, a pet-care products company, and continues to manage that enterprise while campaigning.
Larriett describes his decision to seek public office as driven, in part, by personal experience. In 2024 he was arrested during a traffic stop in Michigan — an incident he calls wrongful, prompting him to pursue criminal justice reform if elected.
In announcing his candidacy, Larriett pledged to prioritize service over politics, framing his run as an opportunity to promote “real solutions” for Alabamians.
If Larriett wins the Democratic primary, he will face a general election in November 2026. The primary is scheduled for May 19, with a runoff in June if no candidate wins a majority.
Larriett’s campaign represents a notable development: he is among a new generation of Democratic candidates seeking statewide office in a state long dominated by Republicans. Alongside him on the Democratic side are candidates such as Kyle Sweetser and Mark Wheeler II.
The 2026 election will decide who will succeed Tuberville, whose Senate seat — last won with 60.1% of the vote in 2020 — becomes open when his term ends in January 2027.
Larriett acknowledges the uphill battle he faces in a deep-red state. Still, he has worked to build grassroots support and assemble a campaign team, including staff from previous statewide Democratic efforts.
As of mid-2025, Larriett had raised a portion of his campaign funds from personal contributions and early supporters, and he said his flexibility as a business owner has let him devote full time to campaigning.
How voters respond to Larriett’s pitch — and whether a Democrat can win the seat in 2026 — remains to be seen.
