Long-rumored to be considering a run for governor in 2026, U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville fueled the speculation himself on Tuesday by expressing interest in the office.

Alabama’s senior senator believes he has a real shot to win the race with term-limited Gov. Kay Ivey ineligible to run, Alabama Daily News reported.

In an interview with ADN’s Todd Stacy, Tuberville said he has not made a definitive decision on the race, adding that being in the Senate majority makes it difficult to leave Washington, D.C.

But Tuberville said he believes he can make a greater impact as governor than in the Senate.

“If you’re the CEO of a state then you can help more in a certain amount of time,” Tuberville told ADN. “I’m not going to be up here forever, even if I do stay.”

Efforts by AL.com to reach Tuberville’s office were not immediately successful.

Before Tuesday, Tuberville had largely dismissed the speculation.

A spokeswoman for the senator repeatedly pointed AL.com to Tuberville’s comments after the November election, when the senator said he was running for reelection.

“Yeah, I’m running. Yeah, I’m getting on up there. I don’t know how many more times I’ll run, but I enjoy it,” Tuberville told CNN’s Manu Raju. “I want to find out what it’s like to be in the majority. When you’re in the minority, you just get kicked in the mouth every day, you know. And we’ve been kind of sat on the back bench. Now it’s time to take over, see what can be done with President Trump.”

Tuberville’s name recognition from a decade as football coach at Auburn, and his alliance with Trump, would make him hard to beat in any statewide race, experts told AL.com, but they expect he will run for reelection to the Senate and not for governor.

There are no announced candidates for governor to replace Ivey. Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth said he is considering the race and will make an announcement after the legislative session in May, which will be one year before the Republican primary.

Alabama Agriculture and Industries Commissioner Rick Pate, twice elected to that position, has said he would consider a run for governor.

Former Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs Commissioner Kent Davis, a retired U.S. Navy rear admiral, has said he would consider a run for governor or another statewide office.