Shomari Figures, a former Justice Department official, and State Representative Anthony Daniels are set to compete in a runoff election for the Democratic primary in Alabama’s Second Congressional District, according to The Associated Press.
This election marks the first time voters are participating in the newly redrawn Second District, a change prompted by a U.S. Supreme Court ruling last year that found Alabama had unlawfully diminished the voting power of Black constituents.
In the Republican primary, former State Senator Dick Brewbaker and real estate lawyer Caroleene Dobson secured enough votes to advance to the runoff election, scheduled for April 16.
The revised district spans hundreds of miles across Alabama, encompassing areas such as the state capital of Montgomery, the seaport city of Mobile, and portions of the Black Belt, historically significant for its cotton plantations worked by enslaved people.
Given the historical support of Black voters for Democratic candidates, the Second Congressional District is now considered a potential opportunity for Democrats to gain the seat. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report adjusted its rating of the district to “likely Democratic” following the redistricting.
Moreover, the new district configuration could lead to Alabama sending two Black representatives to Washington for the first time. Both Figures and Daniels are Black, and Representative Terri Sewell, a Democrat from the Seventh Congressional District, is expected to secure re-election.
Figures and Daniels emerged from a competitive Democratic field that included several state lawmakers and seasoned politicians. Figures, with prior experience at the Justice Department and in the Obama administration, is the son of Michael Figures, a civil rights attorney and former state senator, and Vivian Davis Figures, who succeeded her husband in his Senate seat after his passing.
“People see an opportunity for new leadership, experienced leadership,” remarked Figures in a recent interview. “They’re invested in having someone that can go to Washington and actually try to get things done,” he added, highlighting the appeal of his and Daniels’ combined experience to voters.
Daniels, who was raised in the district and currently serves as the top Democrat in the Alabama House of Representatives, emphasized the unique opportunity presented by the newly configured Second District. “It gives us a unique opportunity to do something special,” he noted, citing his familiarity with various areas of Alabama gained through his legislative role.
Republicans, aware of the district’s significance in determining control of the House of Representatives, are committed to defending the seat. At a candidate forum in Mobile, Brewbaker, a contender in the Republican primary, expressed determination to rebuild the country despite initially not planning to return to politics.
Meanwhile, Representative Barry Moore, the current Republican representative for the Second District, opted not to seek re-election and instead challenged Representative Jerry Carl in the primary race for the First Congressional District. Moore emerged victorious in the primary, according to The Associated Press.
Moore’s victory underscores the internal dynamics within the Republican Party, as he aligns with the conservative House Freedom Caucus and emphasizes opposition to certain spending and defense policies supported by Carl, a member of the House Appropriations Committee.
As the runoff elections approach and the campaign intensifies, the focus remains on the candidates’ ability to resonate with voters and address their concerns in a district with significant historical and political significance.
