Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox made official today what he had announced in October, he intends to become the first Democrat elected governor of Alabama in 20 years.

Maddox filed his papers this afternoon and paid the $2,418 qualifying fee at the state Democratic Party headquarters in Montgomery.

Former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb and James Fields of Cullman are also running for the Democratic nomination.

On the Republican side, Gov. Kay Ivey, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, state Sen. Bill Hightower of Mobile and Michael McAllister have qualified. Evangelist Scott Dawson is also running for the GOP nomination.

Maddox, 45, has been Tuscaloosa's mayor since 2005. He spoke with reporters today at Democratic headquarters. He was joined by his wife, Stephanie, daughter, Taylor, 15, and son, Eli, 4.

Voters have not elected a Democratic governor in Alabama since Don Siegelman's win over Fob James in 1998. In fact, Democrats had not won any statewide race in Alabama since 2008 until Doug Jones beat Roy Moore in the special election for the U.S. Senate on Dec. 12.

Maddox said Jones' win was encouraging but said the stakes are even higher in the governor's race.

"I think Doug Jones' race certainly gives all of us Democrats the hope and belief that a successful campaign can be waged," Maddox said. "But in the end, this is about what we're going to bring to Alabama. Because as important as winning that Senate seat was, for Alabama winning this governor's race is more important."

Maddox said there are ample reasons for voters to look to a Democrat to change the direction of the state after years of Republican leadership in the governor's office and a GOP super majority in the Legislature since 2010.

"There's not a function of state government that's not in crisis," Maddox said "Health care, roads and bridges, education. You look across the spectrum and over the last seven years nearly everything that we do in the state of Alabama is failing."

Maddox said he would make rural health care a priority and propose expansion of Medicaid. He said he would propose a lottery. He said he would offer more specifics on the lottery proposal later but said pre-kindergarten would be one priority for the revenue.

Republican governors and legislators have supported expanding Alabama's pre-K expansion the last few years, but Alabama's highly regarded First Class pre-K program is still not available statewide.

Maddox said he's been a Democrat since he was 17 and could have switched parties for political convenience but will not.

"I am proud to be a Democrat," Maddox said. "And I can't wait when I get on the campaign trail to talk about health care. I can't wait to talk about education. I can't wait to talk our roads and bridges. I can't wait to talk about expanding broadband technology throughout Alabama. All of those things we can do as a Democratic Party and not get tied down in left field and right field issues."

Asked how he plans to build name recognition across the state, Maddox said there was no substitute for hard work on the campaign trail.

"And that's what we plan on doing over the next 130 days to the primary and then the 280-plus days that we have to the general election," Maddox said. "We're just going to work hard and make certain that we can touch as many people and talk to as many people and discuss with as many people the issues facing Alabama."

Candidates can continue to qualify with their parties through Feb. 9. The party primaries are June 5.