# Will Boyd > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Will_Boyd > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Will_Boyd.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will_Boyd > Source revision: 1351902925 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) For the musician, see [Will Boyd (musician)](/source/Will_Boyd_(musician)). **Will Boyd** (born 1971 or 1972)[1] is an American politician, pastor, and [perennial candidate](/source/Perennial_candidate) as a member of the [Democratic Party](/source/Alabama_Democratic_Party). He was the Democratic nominee in the [2018 Alabama lieutenant gubernatorial election](/source/2018_Alabama_lieutenant_gubernatorial_election) and the [2022 United States Senate election in Alabama](/source/2022_United_States_Senate_election_in_Alabama). ## Political career ### Political offices Boyd served on the city council in [Greenville, Illinois](/source/Greenville,_Illinois), from 2009 to 2011. He also served as the chair of the [Lauderdale County, Alabama](/source/Lauderdale_County,_Alabama), Democratic Executive Committee in 2017.[2] ### 2016 U.S. House campaign Main article: [2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Alabama#District 5](/source/2016_United_States_House_of_Representatives_elections_in_Alabama#District_5) Boyd first ran for major political office in his run for [Alabama's 5th congressional district](/source/Alabama's_5th_congressional_district) in 2016. He ran against incumbent [Republican](/source/Republican_Party_(United_States)) representative [Mo Brooks](/source/Mo_Brooks). He accused Brooks of skipping debates, after Brooks was not present at five events that Boyd attended.[3] Boyd lost the general election on November 8, 2016, receiving 33% of the vote.[4] ### 2017 U.S. Senate campaign Main article: [2017 United States Senate special election in Alabama](/source/2017_United_States_Senate_special_election_in_Alabama) Boyd ran for [United States Senate](/source/United_States_Senate) in a 2017 special election. He described himself as a pro-gun Democrat and pushed for $3.3 billion in public works projects. He stated that [Donald Trump](/source/Donald_Trump) was "the type of president ... that a Democrat can work with.[5] He lost the Democratic primary on August 15, 2017, to [Doug Jones](/source/Doug_Jones_(politician)). Boyd finished in fourth with 5% of the vote.[6] ### 2018 lieutenant gubernatorial campaign Main article: [2018 Alabama lieutenant gubernatorial election](/source/2018_Alabama_lieutenant_gubernatorial_election) Boyd ran for [Lieutenant Governor of Alabama](/source/Lieutenant_Governor_of_Alabama) in 2018 as the Democratic nominee, against Republican nominee [Will Ainsworth](/source/Will_Ainsworth).[7] He campaigned on prioritizing education funding and workplace readiness.[8] He stated that his goal was to make Alabama the number one state in education.[9] In the campaign, he also stated his support for legalization of [marijuana](/source/Cannabis_(drug)).[10] He was defeated in the general election, receiving 37% of the vote on November 6.[11] ### 2022 U.S. Senate campaign Main article: [2022 United States Senate election in Alabama](/source/2022_United_States_Senate_election_in_Alabama) Boyd announced his 2022 campaign for United States Senate in January 2022.[12] Ahead of the primary election, he stated that he was feeling confident in his chances of victory.[13] He won the Democratic primary on May 24, defeating two other candidates.[14] In his general election campaign, he stated his support for the [American Civil Liberties Union](/source/American_Civil_Liberties_Union)'s claim of voter suppression in Alabama, which was denied by then-[Secretary of State](/source/Secretary_of_State_of_Alabama) [John Merrill](/source/John_Merrill_(American_politician)).[15] He also described Alabama as appearing like a "hate state" in an interview.[16] In fundraising, he raised far less money than Republican nominee [Katie Britt](/source/Katie_Britt), who had raised over $9.8 million, while Boyd reported less than $10,000 in early October.[17] In the general election on November 8, he was defeated by Britt and received 31% of the vote.[18] ### 2026 gubernatorial campaign Main article: [2026 Alabama gubernatorial election](/source/2026_Alabama_gubernatorial_election) Boyd announced his campaign for [Governor of Alabama](/source/Governor_of_Alabama) in early June 2025, in the Democratic primary.[19][20] In August, he received support from the [Alabama Cannabis Coalition](/source/Alabama_Cannabis_Coalition).[21] ## References 1. Stephens, Glenn (July 31, 2017). ["Will Boyd (D)"](https://birminghamwatch.org/2017/07/31/will-boyd-d/). *BirminghamWatch*. Retrieved 13 January 2026. 1. Slocum, Cheryl (October 30, 2018). ["Will Boyd"](https://birminghamwatch.org/2018/10/30/will-boyd/). *BirminghamWatch*. Retrieved 8 September 2025. 1. Gattis, Paul (November 4, 2016). ["Boyd says Brooks is avoiding 'debates'"](https://www.newspapers.com/image/1187986543/?match=1&terms=%22Will%20Boyd%22). The Huntsville Times. p. 3. Retrieved 8 September 2025. 1. ["5th Congressional District"](https://www.newspapers.com/image/983972165/?match=1&terms=%22Will%20Boyd%22). The Opelika-Auburn News. November 9, 2016. p. 6. Retrieved 8 September 2025. 1. Roop, Lee (June 13, 2017). ["Florence minister Will Boyd a pro-gun Democrat for Senate"](https://www.al.com/news/2017/06/florence_minister_will_boyd_a.html). *AL.com*. Retrieved 8 September 2025. 1. Krynkiw, Ivana (August 15, 2017). ["Democrat Doug Jones wins Alabama Senate primary"](https://www.al.com/news/2017/08/alabamas_senate_primary_democr.html). *AL.com*. Retrieved 8 September 2025. 1. ["Dr. Will Boyd responds to Alabama lieutenant governor candidate questionnaire"](https://yellowhammernews.com/dr-will-boyd-responds-to-alabama-lieutenant-governor-candidate-questionnaire/). *Yellowhammer News*. May 16, 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2025. 1. Walsh, Lauren (October 31, 2018). ["Meet Will Boyd: Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor"](https://abc3340.com/news/beyond-the-podium/meet-will-boyd-democratic-candidate-for-lieutenant-governor). *ABC 33/40*. Retrieved 8 September 2025. 1. Sahlie, Will (October 17, 2018). ["Alabama lt. governor candidate Will Boyd: 'I want us to be at the top in education'"](https://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/story/news/politics/2018/10/17/alabama-lt-governor-candidate-boyd-want-us-top-education/1567060002/). *Montgomery Advertiser* 1. Garrison, Greg (November 1, 2018). ["Lt. Governor race: one wants armed teachers, one leans to legalizing pot"](https://www.al.com/news/2018/10/lt-governor-race-one-wants-armed-teachers-one-leans-to-legalizing-pot.html). *AL.com*. Retrieved 8 September 2025. 1. Jackson, Lily & Sahlie, Will (November 6, 2018). ["Will Ainsworth becomes Alabama's next lieutenant governor"](https://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/story/news/politics/2018/11/06/republican-ainsworth-becomes-alabamas-next-lieutenant-governor/1882142002/). *Montgomery Advertiser* 1. Hester, Zach (January 28, 2022). ["Dr. Will Boyd announces bid for U.S. Senate"](https://whnt.com/news/alabama-news/dr-will-boyd-announces-bid-for-us-senate/). *WHNT*. Retrieved 8 September 2025. 1. Moseley, Brandon (May 16, 2022). ["Will Boyd is feeling confident ahead of the Senate primary"](https://1819news.com/news/item/will-boyd-is-feeling-confident-ahead-of-the-senate-primary). *1819 News*. Retrieved 8 September 2025. 1. Barnett, Jessica (May 24, 2022). ["Will Boyd wins Democratic nomination for Alabama's U.S. Senate seat"](https://www.waaytv.com/news/will-boyd-wins-democratic-nomination-for-alabamas-u-s-senate-seat/article_2fbbc5b6-dbe2-11ec-bac7-afddc1ffa585.html). *WAAY*. Retrieved 8 September 2025. 1. Smith, Dylan (July 11, 2022). ["Democratic Party U.S. Senate nominee Will Boyd claims 'voter suppression' in Alabama"](https://yellowhammernews.com/democratic-party-u-s-senate-nominee-will-boyd-claims-voter-suppression-in-alabama/). *Yellowhammer News*. Retrieved 8 September 2025. 1. Smith, Dylan (August 12, 2022). ["Alabama 'looks like it's a hate state,' says Democrat U.S. Senate nominee Will Boyd"](https://yellowhammernews.com/alabama-looks-like-its-a-hate-state-says-democrat-u-s-senate-nominee-will-boyd/). *Yellowhammer News*. Retrieved 8 September 2025. 1. Gattis, Paul (October 17, 2022). ["Katie Britt maintains large fundraising lead in Alabama's senate race"](https://www.al.com/news/2022/10/katie-britt-maintains-large-fundraising-lead-in-alabamas-senate-race.html). *AL.com*. Retrieved 8 September 2025. 1. Cason, Mike (November 8, 2022). ["Katie Britt wins: Makes history, becomes Alabama's 1st woman elected to U.S. Senate"](https://www.al.com/election/2022/11/katie-britt-can-make-history-as-alabamas-1st-woman-elected-to-us-senate.html). *AL.com*. Retrieved 8 September 2025. 1. Barrett, Anna (June 11, 2025). ["Democrat Will Boyd announces 2026 campaign for Alabama governor"](https://alabamareflector.com/2025/06/11/democrat-will-boyd-announces-2026-campaign-for-alabama-governor/). *Alabama Reflector*. Retrieved 8 September 2025. 1. Shipley, Austen (July 25, 2025). ["Boyd is Back: Democrat pastor-turned-politician announces bid for Governor of Alabama in 2026"](https://yellowhammernews.com/boyd-is-back-democrat-pastor-turned-politician-announces-bid-for-governor-of-alabama-in-2026/). *Yellowhammer News*. Retrieved 8 September 2025. 1. ["Will Boyd wins cannabis group endorsement, unveils plan to reverse hemp ban"](https://www.alreporter.com/2025/08/04/will-boyd-wins-cannabis-group-endorsement-unveils-plan-to-reverse-hemp-ban/). *Alabama Political Reporter*. August 4, 2025. Retrieved 8 September 2025. --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Will Boyd](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will_Boyd) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will_Boyd?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.