Chad "Chig" Martin wears many hats as an Alabama entrepreneur, but felt inspired to throw another into the 2026 Alabama Gubernatorial race, igniting a profound grassroots campaign. Martin was Born, Raised, & decided to Stay in Enterprise, AL.   He graduated from Enterprise High School in 1986 and was awarded a football scholarship from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga,,where he completed his bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice in 1991. He founded Thunder Industrial Supply Company and established the first hemp dispensary in Alabama, Honeysuckle Hemp Company in Dothan. He is the innovative thinker Alabama needs to positively progress our state.    What Martin refers to as "The Citizen's Driven Movement" has grown rapidly to 29 thousand followers. He acknowledges his years of experience in business creation and management can help elevate Alabama's job market and ultimately overall quality of life for ALL Alabamians.

   He is running on decriminalizing natural medicines in light of the recent HB445 passing, placing harder restrictions on those looking for alternative medications. Martin believes in expanding Medicaid, and enhancing our health care industry by incorporating natural medicinal options. By creating health hubs in rural areas, Alabama can provide preventive care options to alleviate emergency room overcrowding and under funding.  This includes working to accept naturopathic practitioners and natural medicinal options under insurance providers. Alabamians should be afforded the freedom to choose their quality of care.

   By investing in infrastructure for roadways, broadband, and waste water management, he envisions Alabama revitalizing our Agricultural industries and enabling remote Alabamians an opportunity to expand Agritourism efforts, boosting their local economies. Recruiting high tech industries that invest back into our communities will provide stability and economic growth for generations to come. He strongly believes in being proactive about drawing in beneficial business opportunities. His focus is on sustainable industry growth that creates long lasting careers, paying livable wages with maintainable benefits, and respectable retirement packages. He plans on making an investment in Alabama’s Black Belt Region with infrastructure improvements on roads and bridges. He will recruit new industry and have complimentary trade school platforms in place to help create long term employment solutions for underserved areas.

   His desire is to keep "Alabama the Beautiful" by strengthening and enforcing dumping and pollution regulations. Providing adequate funding to our state regulatory agencies, as well as, working with private companies and nonprofits, can enable better monitoring to mitigate our pollution, in addition to keeping an eye out for our wildlife. His desire is to integrate an affordable statewide Spay & Neuter program to help alleviate overpopulation.    Creating an Education lottery in Alabama is essential to affording our students opportunities in early childhood education, assistance with scholarships, and technical career training. Martin’s desire is to focus efforts in adult career training, offering remote work opportunities for rural areas to increase economic development. Martin proposes four gaming entertainment zones throughout the state with the goal of every Alabamian living no more than two hours away. These zones will include both family friendly and adult gaming resorts. Water and amusement parks, professional daycare services, world class plays and musicals, concerts, entertainers and the overall expansion of arts performances provides gainful employment for our citizens, creates tax revenue for the state, and affords Alabamians a realistic opportunity to enjoy time with family and friends. His biggest pride and joy is his daughter Anna.  She has been his biggest support and stepped up to carry on the family businesses, enabling him to fully focus on the needs of Alabamians.  When he has the opportunity, you can find Martin fishing in the Gulf or hunting in Barbour County. He is invested in Alabama and the well being of all.

   Mr. Martin will be traveling the state hosting in person Meet & Greets where voters are welcome to ask questions as well as present solutions to issues their community faces. You can connect with him directly on Facebook at Chad Chig Martin for Governor 2026 where he hosts live Q & A's or Follow his “EVENTS” page on his website ChadChigMartin.com to see when he will be in your area.