The race for Representative of Alabama’s newly redrawn 2nd Congressional District is closely watched following a federal court’s ruling that the previous map was racially gerrymandered. Attorney Caroleene Dobson defeated former state Sen. Dick Brewbaker to win the Republican nomination, while Shomari Figures, a former top aide to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, defeated state House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels to win the Democratic nomination. The primary runoffs on Tuesday set up a potentially historic November race that could impact the battle for control of the U.S. House of Representatives. Dobson and Figures will face off in the general election.
Democrats are aiming to flip the seat after the district was redrawn to boost the voting power of Black residents by a federal court. If Figures is elected, Alabama could have two Black members in its congressional delegation for the first time in history. Figures, the son of two prominent Alabama legislators, thanked voters for their support and emphasized the importance of representing the Democratic Party in November. The district has been rated as “likely Democrat” by the Cook Political Report, but Republicans believe they have a chance to be competitive and keep the seat under GOP control.
Dobson, a real estate attorney and member of the Alabama Forestry Commission, received support from rural areas to secure the Republican nomination. She expressed gratitude to Republican voters for their support and eagerness to fight for Alabama families. The new district was created after a court battle that found the previous map was racially gerrymandered to limit the influence of Black voters. The new district spans the width of the state and includes Montgomery, parts of Mobile, and rural counties in the state’s Black Belt. Federal judges approved new district lines in October to ensure Black voters have a reasonable opportunity to elect a candidate of their choice.
Former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, chairman of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, highlighted the potential historic significance of the upcoming election for Black Alabamians. Holder emphasized that for the first time, Black voters in Alabama could elect two members of Congress who truly reflect their political desires. Figures, who served as an aide to former President Barack Obama, moved back to Mobile from Washington D.C. to run for the congressional seat. Dobson, who was raised in Monroe County and practiced law in Texas before returning to Alabama, harnessed support in rural areas to secure her spot in the general election.
The closely watched general election in November will pit Dobson against Figures, with Democrats hoping to secure the seat in a district that has been redrawn to increase the influence of Black voters. Figures, who has a background in law and government, is aiming to represent the Democratic Party in the historic race. Dobson, a newcomer to politics, is seeking to fight for Alabama families and maintain GOP control of the seat. The outcome of this race could play a significant role in the battle for control of the U.S. House of Representatives and have implications for the representation of Black voters in Alabama’s congressional delegation.
