Crowded race for Alabama's new US House district, as Democrats aim to flip seat in November
Alabama has heated primary battles in two congressional districts on Super Tuesday
Election 2024 Alabama Robert Ward leaves the volunteer fire station after voting during a primary election, Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in Cusseta, Ala. Fifteen states and a U.S. territory hold their 2024 nominating contests on Super Tuesday. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart) (Mike Stewart/AP)
ByBy The Associated Press
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — The race for Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District, which was redrawn by a federal court to boost the voting power of Black voters, has sparked congested and competitive primary contests.
Democrats see an opportunity to flip the Deep South congressional seat in November. Republicans aim to keep hold of the seat, as control of the U.S. House of Representatives is on the line. A total of 18 candidates — 11 Democrats and seven Republicans — are running in the new district.
The revamped 2nd Congressional District, which stretches from Mobile through Montgomery to the Georgia border, is being viewed as a once-in-a generation opportunity for Democrats in a state where Republicans dominate.
The contest is one of two heated congressional primaries in the state on Super Tuesday. In the 1st Congressional District, two Republican congressmen — Rep. Jerry Carl and Rep. Barry Moore — are facing off in a primary showdown that will end with one of them leaving office next year.
A federal court in November drew new congressional lines after ruling Alabama had illegally diluted the voting strength of Black residents. The three-judge panel said Alabama, which is 27% Black, should have a second district where Black voters make up a substantial portion of the voting age population and have a reasonable opportunity to elect a candidate of their choice.
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The large number of people competing in the 2nd Congressional District makes it likely that the race will go to an April 16 runoff between the top two finishers. A runoff is required unless a single candidate captures more than 50% of the vote.
Candidates include Shomari Figures, a resident of Mobile and former deputy chief of staff to the U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, as well as high-profile members of the Alabama Legislature: House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels of Huntsville; state Rep. Napoleon Bracy, Jr. of Prichard; state Sen. Merika Coleman of Pleasant Grove; state Rep. Juandalynn Givan of Birmingham and state Rep. Jeremy Gray of Opelika.
Also running are former U.S. Marine James Averhart, education consultant Phyllis Harvey-Hall, retired businessman Willie J. Lenard, businessman Vimal Patel and Larry Darnell Simpson.
The eight Republicans who have qualified to run are: state Sen. Greg Albritton of Atmore; former state Sen. Dick Brewbaker of Pike Road; attorney Caroleene Dobson; business owner Karla M. DuPriest; real estate agent Hampton Harris; Stacey T. Shepperson of Saraland; and Newton City Council member Belinda Thomas.
The shifting district lines have led to an unusual competition in the GOP primary for south Alabama’s 1st Congressional District.
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Moore challenged Carl, the incumbent in the 1st Congressional District after being drawn out of the 2nd Congressional District, which he currently represents.
The two Republicans and their supporters have traded accusations over voting records, late tax payments and loyalty to former President Donald Trump.
Both are in their second terms in Congress after being elected in 2020 to their respective districts. Moore is a former member of the Alabama Legislature. Carl served as president of the Mobile County Commission.
The winner will face Democrat Tom Holmes in November.
A voter enters the election station during a primary election, Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in Cusseta, Ala. Fifteen states and a U.S. territory hold their 2024 nominating contests on Super Tuesday this year. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart) (Mike Stewart/AP) Robert Ward votes at the volunteer fire station during a primary election, Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in Cusseta, Ala. Fifteen states and a U.S. territory hold their 2024 nominating contests on Super Tuesday this year. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart) (Mike Stewart/AP) FILE - Alabama Rep. Anthony Daniels speaks with the media during the opening of the legislative session at the Alabama State House in Montgomery, Ala., Jan. 11, 2022. Daniels is seeking the Democratic nomination in Alabama's 2nd Congressional District. (Mickey Welsh/The Montgomery Advertiser via AP, File) (Mickey Welsh/AP) FILE - Alabama Rep. Juandalynn Givan asks a question during a hearing, April 10, 2017, in Montgomery, Ala. Givan is seeking the Democratic nomination for Alabama's 2nd Congressional District. (Albert Cesare/The Montgomery Advertiser via AP, Pool, File) (Albert Cesare/AP) FILE - Alabama Sen. Rodger Smitherman, left, and Sen. Greg Albritton chat during the special session on COVID-19 relief money, held in the Senate chamber of the Alabama State House in Montgomery, Ala., Jan. 25, 2022. Albritton is seeking the GOP nomination in Alabama's 2nd Congressional District. (Mickey Welsh/The Montgomery Advertiser via AP, File) (Mickey Welsh/AP) FILE - Alabama Rep. Merika Coleman talks during debate on the House floor at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Ala., March 27, 2018. Coleman is seeking the Democratic nomination in Alabama's 2nd Congressional District. (Mickey Welsh/The Montgomery Advertiser via AP, File) (Mickey Welsh/AP) FILE - Alabama Sen. Dick Brewbaker, R-Montgomery, speaks at the podium on the Senate floor during a special legislative session, Aug. 17, 2016, at the Alabama State House in Montgomery, Ala. The former state senator is seeking the GOP nomination in Alabama's 2nd Congressional District. (Julie Bennett/The Birmingham News via AP, File) (Julie Bennett/AP) In this image provided by the Figures for Congress campaign, Shomari Figures, former deputy chief of staff to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, poses for a photo. Figures is running for the Democratic nomination in Alabama's 2nd Congressional District. (Terri Baskin/Figures for Congress via AP) (Terri Baskin/AP) In this undated photo provided by Dobson for Congress, Caroleene Dobson poses for a photo in Alabama. Dobson is running for the 2nd Congressional District seat in Alabama. (Courtesy of Dobson for Congress via AP) (Uncredited/AP) FILE - Rep. Jerry Carl, R-Ala., talks a selfie with Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, as Republicans try to elect Jordan to be the new House speaker, Oct. 17, 2023, at the Capitol in Washington. Carl is running for the 1st Congressional district seat in Alabama. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File) (Alex Brandon/AP) FILE - House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, left, speaks with Rep. Barry Moore, R-Ala., center, and Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, right, during a House Judiciary Committee Field Hearing, April 17, 2023, in New York. Moore is running for the 1st Congressional district seat in Alabama. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File) (John Minchillo/AP) Alabama Rep. Napoleon Bracy looks on during debate at the State House in Montgomery, Ala., April 7, 2022. Bracy is seeking the 2024 Democratic nomination for Alabama's 2nd Congressional District. (Mickey Welsh/The Montgomery Advertiser via AP, File) (Mickey Welsh/AP) Jeremy Gray takes an oath at Greater Peace Missionary Baptist Church in Opelika, Ala., Nov. 7, 2018, after winning the election to the Alabama Legislature. Gray of Opelika is seeking the Democratic nomination for Alabama 2nd Congressional District. (Emily Enfinger/Opelika-Auburn News via AP) (Emily Enfinger/AP) Robert Ward prepares to vote at the volunteer fire station during a primary election, Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in Cusseta, Ala. Fifteen states and a U.S. territory hold their 2024 nominating contests on Super Tuesday this year. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart) (Mike Stewart/AP)
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