In Tuskegee, Alabama, there is a hotly contested congressional race between Democrat Shomari Figures and Republican Caroleene Dobson. The seat was redrawn after a lengthy redistricting battle, giving Black voters in the district a better opportunity to elect a candidate of their choosing. Figures, who previously worked in the Obama White House, is trying to flip the seat, while Dobson, a political newcomer, is attempting to keep the seat in GOP hands. The district now leans Democratic and is considered likely Democrat by the Cook Political Report.
Both Figures and Dobson believe the race is competitive and have garnered support from their respective parties. Figures was named to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s “Red to Blue” program, while Dobson was named to the NRCC’s “Young Guns” list. Both candidates are lawyers under the age of 40 with young children who have recently returned to Alabama. However, they differ on political issues, with Figures focusing on healthcare, education, and infrastructure, while Dobson emphasizes concerns about border security, inflation, and crime.
Dobson has aligned herself with former President Donald Trump, highlighting her support for his policies on issues like border security. Figures, on the other hand, has criticized Dobson’s focus on immigration, stating that pressing problems in the district are not caused by illegal immigration. The 2nd Congressional District, which includes parts of Mobile and Montgomery, as well as rural counties in lower Alabama, has a significant Black population and many GOP strongholds. The shift in the Democratic ticket to Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to benefit Figures, while enthusiasm among GOP voters to return Trump to the White House may drive turnout for Dobson.
The race has brought attention to the district, which has often been overlooked by candidates in the past due to its status as part of a GOP stronghold. Residents, like retired educator Ira Stallworth, see the opportunity to have a district that gives them a stronger voice in the political process. Both candidates are actively campaigning and engaging with voters in the diverse district, which has a mix of urban, suburban, and rural areas. This election could play a crucial role in deciding control of the U.S. House of Representatives and will be closely watched as a bellwether for shifting political dynamics in the region.
