Shomari Figures is projected to win the Democratic primary runoff in Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District, marking a potential historic moment as there could be two Black House members from Alabama serving together for the first time. The runoff saw Figures defeating state House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels after neither candidate received more than 50% of the vote in the first round. 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 face Dobson in November in a district that traditionally leans towards supporting Democratic candidates.
The creation of the new district, approved by a three-judge panel last fall, significantly increased the Black population within the district, providing Democrats with a potential pickup opportunity in the upcoming elections. The US Supreme Court affirmed the panel’s decision to include a second Black-majority district or something similar, leading to the redrawn map. In a statement, former US Attorney General Eric Holder praised the election as a step towards progress and increased voter turnout due to the state’s new fair map. Alabama currently has one Black-majority district out of seven seats, with only one Black member in its congressional delegation.
Prior to entering the race, Shomari Figures had a background in the Justice Department, working as deputy chief of staff to US Attorney General Merrick Garland, as well as serving in the Obama administration and as a counsel in Congress. Figures comes from a prominent political family in Alabama, with his late father, Michael Figures, being a state senator and lawyer who played a significant role in a successful lawsuit against the United Klans of America. His mother, Vivian Davis Figures, took over her late husband’s seat in the state Senate and continues to serve.
The 2nd District race saw a significant amount of ad spending, totaling over $8 million from both sides during the initial primary contest and the runoff. A major influence on the Democratic side was the pro-Figures super PAC, Protect Progress, which is funded by cryptocurrency interests and spent $2.7 million on advertising in the race. Dobson’s campaign also invested in ads, spending approximately $1.7 million and positioning herself as a “Trump conservative” while criticizing her opponent as a tax-raising, Trump-hating politician. The outcome of the November election will be watched closely as Alabama has never had two Black members in its congressional delegation serving simultaneously.
In conclusion, Shomari Figures’ victory in the Democratic primary runoff in Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District sets the stage for a potential historic moment with the possibility of having two Black House members from Alabama serving together for the first time. The redrawing of the district’s map to increase the Black population, as mandated by a three-judge panel and affirmed by the US Supreme Court, has provided Democrats with an opportunity to strengthen their presence in the state. Figures, with his background in the Justice Department and a prominent political family in Alabama, is favored to win in the November election, where he could join Rep. Terri Sewell as the state’s second Black representative. The significant ad spending in the race, particularly from the pro-Figures super PAC and Dobson’s campaign, indicates the competitive nature of the contest and the importance of this election for Alabama voters.
