Democratic Rep. Shomari Figures will face a Republican opponent in November for an Alabama congressional seat that was redrawn by GOP lawmakers as part of an effort to maintain their U.S. House majority. State Rep. Rhett Marques, who secured the Republican nomination for the 2nd Congressional District in a special primary election, will challenge Figures, who ran unopposed in his primary.
The 2nd Congressional District is one of several Democratic-leaning districts in the South that were reshaped following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that weakened the Voting Rights Act. Figures, who was elected in 2024, stated that his new district remains winnable and characterized the choice for voters in November as clear, saying, “My opponent would be just another rubber stamp on the same policies that are making life more expensive for the people right here in Alabama.”
Marques, an owner of a tire and automotive service and a member of the Alabama Legislature since 2018, has received endorsements from President Donald Trump and U.S. Sen. Katie Britt. "The stakes in November could not be higher," Marques said after winning the Republican nomination.
Both major parties have identified the district as a priority for the upcoming election. Figures won the seat in 2024 after years of litigation under the Voting Rights Act. A federal court had previously redrawn the district, which had reliably voted Republican, after finding that the GOP-controlled Legislature had intentionally diluted the voting power of Black residents, who constitute 27% of Alabama's population. The court had mandated a second Alabama district where Black residents would constitute a majority or near-majority. Figures' election, which gave Alabama two Black representatives for the first time in its history, made them the only Democrats in the state's seven-member congressional delegation.
In April, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a majority-Black district in Louisiana, deeming it an unconstitutional gerrymander that relied too heavily on race. Alabama Republicans, along with those in other Southern states, used this decision to advance their redistricting efforts. Lawmakers approved legislation to nullify ongoing primary results and instead authorize Tuesday's special primary elections, with the Supreme Court granting Alabama permission to switch maps in June.
Figures' redrawn district is located in the southeastern part of the state, encompassing Montgomery and Tuskegee, both considered Democratic strongholds with significant civil rights histories. The district also includes rural areas known for agriculture and a strong military presence, including an Air Force base in Montgomery and an Army base in Dale County. However, the Republican redistricting reduced the Black voting-age population from 48% to 40%, potentially making it more challenging for Democrats.
During a recent forum, Republican candidates discussed issues such as the Iran war and data centers, but much of the focus was on the general election against Figures. Marques, who won a six-way GOP primary, stated, “Shomari is going to have the money. He is going to have the opportunity to keep this district. If we get out to vote, we can win it, and we can take this seat back for the Republicans.” He added that his fall campaign would focus on promoting safe streets, Christian values, and economic relief. "With your help, common sense will conquer craziness in November," Marques said.
Some Black residents view the redistricting process as an attempt to diminish their political voice, drawing parallels to past instances of Republican gerrymandering. Maggie Walker, an 80-year-old retired educator from Montgomery, expressed optimism that Figures can win, stating, “I think he represents us and the things that are important to our state.” Isaiah Sankey, vice chairman of the Montgomery County Commission, remarked, “We’re going backward with everything — But it’s OK — we are used to the struggle. It’s move forward, you get pushed back.”
Figures, speaking at a community gathering, asserted that Republicans would not succeed in making the district unwinnable for him. "That’s in large part because I’ve had the privilege to represent over half of this new district already. We’ve shown up in the communities. We’ve shown them how we can deliver results," he said. He also cited his record of securing funding for local hospitals, law enforcement, housing, and infrastructure projects.