Doug Jones’ gay son shares tribute after Alabama governor loss: ‘You fought the good fight’
Doug Jones with his son Carson and his wife Louise. (Getty Images)
Carson Jones, the out gay son of former US senator Doug Jones, has shared an emotional tribute to his parents after Doug Jones narrowly lost Alabama’s race for governor.
In a heartfelt Instagram post, Carson addressed his parents directly after the election, reflecting on what the campaign meant beyond the final result.
“Dear Mom and Dad, most people are lucky to make history once. And while we might not have won on Tuesday, you’ve spent the last year making a little bit of history each and every day,” he wrote.
Carson went on to praise the way his parents approached the campaign trail: “You knew the odds were against you. But you believed Alabama deserved a choice, and that the people of this state deserved better. So you went to places where candidates rarely, if ever, show up. You listened to people’s hopes, dreams, and struggles. And you gave people a reason to believe things could be different. Proud is an understatement.”
The post included a carousel of photos and videos of the family campaigning, with Carson joking about the “ridiculous AI memes we would never post (oops)”.
What did Carson Jones say after the election?
In the most emotional part of his message, Carson wrote about the weight of the loss for his parents and for Alabama.
“I know how heavily Tuesday’s outcome weighs on both of you. Not just the loss, but what it means for Alabama and the people you care so deeply about. I wish things had turned out differently. But you fought the good fight, showed people what’s possible, and helped build something that others can carry forward. That matters.”
Carson Jones is known publicly as the son of Doug Jones and has periodically drawn national attention through social media and political appearances. He has written and spoken publicly about being gay and about LGBTQ+ rights in Alabama, and has been a visible campaign surrogate and online communicator during his father’s political runs.
How close was the Alabama governor race?
Republican US senator Tommy Tuberville won the governorship by an estimated about 4 percentage points, based on WBRC’s analysis of unofficial results. It was Alabama’s closest gubernatorial race since 2002.
The election also brought LGBTQ+ representation breakthroughs in the state. Allison Montgomery became Alabama’s first out transgender person elected to the Legislature, and Brett Jones became its first out gay person elected sheriff.
Doug Jones became the first Democrat elected to the US Senate from Alabama in 25 years when he won a 2017 special election. In 2023, he drew attention for a lengthy tribute on X after FL “Bubba” Copeland died by suicide, asking: “What crime did Copeland commit?”
