U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville is dismissing a promised challenge from Alabama Democrats to his candidacy for the governor’s office.

Tuberville, speaking last Friday on “Capitol Journal,” told host Todd Stacy that it was Democrats’ prerogative to pursue some kind of challenge.

But he said he has lived most of the last 25 years in Alabama and they are “wasting their time.”

Alabama Democratic Party Chairman Randy Kelley last week said the party will challenge Sen. Tuberville’s eligibility to run for governor based on the residency requirement in the state constitution.

“His primary residence is in Florida,” Kelley said after Tuberville announced he would run for governor next year.

Speaking by video, Tuberville said he’s spent last six years splitting his time between Alabama and Washington, D.C.

“You have some of these entities in the state, our state,” he said.

“They’re Democrat, what would you call them, strongholds, that just want to do everything possible to keep me from running. Well, they did that, and there was a lot of people that went after me saying different things, and most of that was saying, ‘We got to keep him from running because if he runs he’s going to win and he’s going to be the most conservative governor we’ve had in a long time; we can’t allow that to happen.’

“Well, it’s happened. They didn’t keep me from getting in the race. We’re going to win this race.”

Tuberville said he had enjoyed being a senator but looks forward to an expanded role as a governor.

“I’ve enjoyed it, but you’re a team player as a United States senator,” he said. “You don’t oversee anything.”

Lacing his talk with several football metaphors, he said he wanted to pursue the governor’s office because “it’s kind of like being a head coach.” He plans on “recruiting” businesses after putting together a “coaching staff” and formulating a “game plan.”

“I’ve read more, Todd, in the last six years than I have in a lifetime,” he said.

“In this business, it’s not about offense, defense and kicking game, it’s about education, health care, pensions, laborers, military. I mean, there’s so many things you have to keep up with.”

If elected, Tuberville said he would pursue an agenda similar to President Donald Trump, with less regulation, less taxes and smaller, more consolidated government.

“We have got to grow the state of Alabama. Look at Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Florida, everybody around us. They’re dropping taxes and they’re growing,” he said.