Overview

• Murphy, a Birmingham native, Navy Reserve captain and former Tuberville aide who recently left a White House advisory post, formally announced his campaign on Sept. 22.
• He is best known in Washington for work behind Tuberville’s 2023 blockade of hundreds of military promotions over a Pentagon abortion travel policy.
• A launch ad casts him as a "Trump-tested conservative" and criticizes Democratic administrations on national defense, higher education and social issues.
• He joins Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, Rep. Barry Moore, former Navy SEAL Jared Hudson and businessman Rodney Walker in the Republican field.
• The May 19, 2026 GOP primary is expected to be decisive in a seat rated safe Republican, and Murphy said he notified the White House of his bid but has not spoken directly to the president.