Photo courtesy of Chad “Chig” Martin via Facebook, 2025.
Who Is Chad “Chig” Martin?
A Look at Alabama’s Outsider Candidate for Governor
by Joshua Kotlowski | Owner and Writer for Bama Blues
In a state where winning candidates are often defined by their party identity, Chad “Chig” Martin is running a campaign that tries to move beyond it. The businessman from Enterprise is seeking the Democratic nomination for governor by positioning himself as a representative of “hard working, free thinking Alabamians” rather than of the Democratic Party itself.
Martin, the owner of Honeysuckle Hemp Company and founder of Thunder Industrial Supply, is making his second run for governor in 2026 after a previous bid in 2022. This time, his campaign is more organized, more visible, and built around what he calls a “Citizens-Driven Movement,” emphasizing direct engagement with voters through social media over traditional campaign structures.
As part of its coverage of the 2026 governor’s race, Bama Blues reached out to Martin’s campaign with a series of questions. Here is what we learned.
What the Chig? Who is Chad Martin?
Chad “Chig” Martin is a businessman from Enterprise whose background is rooted in business and hands-on work rather than politics. “When I started small businesses, I was sales, accounting, shipping, receiving, I did it all,” Martin said in a recent interview. “That’s what makes me really a multifaceted businessman.”
Over the years, Martin has built and managed multiple businesses, including Honeysuckle Hemp Company, which he describes as Alabama’s first hemp dispensary. His experience there, he says, has shaped the way he views both the economy and government.
That perspective carries into his campaign. Martin is not a career politician, and he makes that clear in both his messaging and his approach. He describes his campaign as a “Citizens-Driven Movement,” and it shows in how he interacts with his 41,000 followers. Martin regularly responds to comments on his posts, conducts live Q&A sessions on Facebook, and travels across the state to meet with supporters and those looking for an alternative to Alabama’s usual politicians. His accessibility to voters is foundational.
When I started a business, I was sales, accounting, shipping, receiving, I did it all.
Chad Martin
Despite his deep business roots, Martin credits his upbringing for shaping much of his political outlook and how he runs his campaign. “My parents came from very humble beginnings, especially my mother, who was extremely resilient. I watched them work hard for everything we had while also helping community members in need,” he said in response to questions from Bama Blues.
His motivation for running is also tied to his own personal experiences. He told Bama Blues that a defining moment came when a friend of his daughter said she had to move back home because her teacher’s salary wasn’t enough to live on.
Those personal moments further define him outside of politics. He describes a quieter life centered around family, saying that spending time with his daughter, fishing, and gardening help keep him grounded as the chaos of a political campaign consumes most of his time.
Altogether, Martin’s personal experiences and his background in business shape not only how he presents himself to voters, but also the ideas and policies at the center of his campaign.
What Are His Beliefs?
Martin’s platform centers on a mix of economic opportunity, healthcare access, and personal freedom, with a particular focus on issues affecting working-class and rural Alabamians.
At the core of his economic message is a focus on wages and cost of living. When asked what he sees as the most important economic issue facing the state, Martin pointed to “livable wages,” saying he supports increasing the minimum wage. He also pointed to growing frustration among Alabamians over high energy rates, saying that “auditing Alabama Power and introducing new sources of energy would be beneficial for competitive rates.”
Martin places a strong emphasis on that kind of economic stability throughout his platform, particularly in his focus on job creation, workforce development, and investment in underserved areas like Alabama’s Black Belt. His proposal to establish four gaming zones for resorts across the state also ties into that vision, which he says would create jobs, generate revenue, and support infrastructure development.
My parents came from very humble beginnings… They worked hard for everything we had while also helping community members in need.
Chad Martin
Healthcare is another central issue in Martin’s campaign. He supports expanding Medicaid, improving access to care in rural communities, and increasing the use of telehealth services to connect patients with providers across the state. When Bama Blues asked how he intended to improve medical access, he said, “We hope to implement the Alabama Gaming & Healthcare fund,” referencing his plan to establish four gaming zones in the state. “This money would be earmarked specifically for healthcare expansion.”
That proposal ties into his broader support for a state lottery and expanded gaming, which he argues would generate revenue for both healthcare and education. He has pointed to neighboring states as examples, noting that Alabama residents are already spending this money across state lines and helping fund services in states like Georgia and Tennessee instead of Alabama.
One of the more distinctive aspects of Martin’s platform is his focus on natural medicine and the hemp industry. As the owner of a hemp business, he has been directly impacted by recent state legislation restricting hemp-derived products, and he has been openly critical of those policies. He has called for changes that would allow small businesses to operate more freely while expanding access to alternative forms of treatment.
On criminal justice, Martin’s approach centers on reducing the conditions that lead to incarceration rather than expanding punitive measures. He has emphasized economic opportunity and workforce development as long-term solutions, while also opposing what he sees as unnecessary criminalization.
“We hope that by increasing economic development and introducing more sustainable career opportunities will in turn decrease the need for criminal activity,” he said.
He has also been direct in his criticism of current policy trends, arguing that the state is “writing bills to criminalize Alabamians’ rights,” particularly in regard to harsh and outdated possession laws. His platform includes support for shifting toward treatment and rehabilitation rather than punishment, aligning with his broader focus on public health and personal freedom.
Across these issues, Martin’s platform reflects a consistent theme: improving quality of life through economic stability, expanded access to healthcare, and reducing barriers that he believes limit personal and economic freedom.
What Does He Want for Alabama?
At the very core, Martin’s campaign is centered on improving quality of life for Alabamians by addressing the economic and structural challenges that many communities across the state continue to face.
A major part of that vision is focused on revitalizing rural areas, particularly in regions like the Black Belt that he and other candidates have described as long underserved. Through investment in infrastructure, workforce development, and healthcare access, Martin has emphasized the importance of creating opportunities in areas that have historically been left behind.
Economic stability is at the center of that vision. His proposals around job creation, livable wages, and industry recruitment are aimed at building a state where residents can support themselves and their families without feeling like they have no choice but to leave their communities in search of better opportunities.
Healthcare also plays a key role in how Martin views the state’s future. By expanding access to care, investing in preventative services, and exploring alternative approaches to treatment, he has framed healthcare not just as a service, but as a foundation for stronger communities.
Martin’s platform reflects a consistent theme: improving quality of life.
Underlying many of his positions is a broader belief that government should remove barriers rather than create them. Whether discussing healthcare, criminal justice, or business regulation, Martin has consistently emphasized the importance of personal choice and reducing what he sees as unnecessary restrictions on individuals and small businesses.
At the same time, his campaign reflects an effort to move away from traditional political divisions. By focusing less on party identity and more on direct engagement with voters, Martin has framed his campaign as one built on accessibility, shared concerns, and practical solutions.
Taken together, Martin’s vision for Alabama is centered on opportunity, access, and a more responsive government, with the goal of creating a state where more residents can build stable, sustainable lives.
The Bottom Line
Chad “Chig” Martin is running for governor as a political outsider, billing himself as someone who represents all Alabamians. His platform, focused on economic stability and healthcare access, his campaign, which thrives on directly engaging his supporters, and his motivations, driven by personal stories and experiences, all suggest that may be true. Whether that message can resonate with enough voters to move beyond the primary remains to be seen, but few could argue that he is not a serious candidate or that he lacks a genuine love for this state and its people.
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