Shomari Figures is projected to win the Democratic primary runoff in Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District, a seat that was redrawn to potentially result in two Black House members from Alabama serving together for the first time. Figures defeated state House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels in the runoff after neither candidate received more than 50% of the vote in the initial round last month. The Republican primary was also decided in a runoff, with Caroleene Dobson winning the nomination over former state Sen. Dick Brewbaker. Figures is expected to be the favorite in the November election in a seat that leans Democratic and could make history by serving alongside Rep. Terri Sewell, creating two Black members in Alabama’s congressional delegation at the same time.
The new congressional district came into existence after a new map was approved by a three-judge panel that significantly increased the Black population in the district, providing a new opportunity for Democrats in the upcoming elections. The fight over the new map went all the way to the US Supreme Court, which ruled in favor of adding a second Black-majority district in Alabama. Former US Attorney General Eric Holder praised the election results as a step towards progress and increased voter turnout, highlighting the potential historic moment in November with the election of two Black members of Congress who reflect the desires of Black Alabamians.
Prior to entering the race, Figures held prominent positions, including serving as deputy chief of staff to US Attorney General Merrick Garland and working in the Obama administration. Figures comes from a family with a significant history in Alabama politics, with his late father, Michael Figures, being a state senator who played a key role in a successful lawsuit against the United Klans of America. Figures’ mother, Vivian Davis Figures, succeeded her husband in the state Senate and continues to serve. The 2nd District race saw a total of $8 million in ad spending, with a pro-Figures super PAC, Protect Progress, funded by cryptocurrency interests, leading in advertising expenditures.
Dobson’s campaign, on the other hand, focused on portraying herself as a “Trump conservative” and criticizing Brewbaker as a “tax-raising, Trump-hating politician.” The intense competition in the race highlighted the significance of the new map in diversifying Alabama’s congressional delegation as well as the potential impact of the election on shaping the state’s political landscape. The presence of two Black members of Congress serving together in Alabama would mark a significant milestone in the state’s history and could have lasting implications for representation and inclusion in the state’s politics.
Overall, the election results in Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District represent a potential turning point in the state’s political landscape, with the possibility of electing two Black House members who could better reflect the desires of the state’s diverse population. The race highlighted the impact of redistricting on representation and the efforts to ensure fair and equitable electoral processes. As the campaigns head towards the general election in November, the focus will shift to the candidates’ platforms, their ability to address the needs of their constituents, and the potential historical significance of having two Black members in Alabama’s congressional delegation serving at the same time.
