{"id":40383,"date":"2026-08-12T08:08:40","date_gmt":"2026-08-12T03:08:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=40383"},"modified":"2026-08-12T08:08:40","modified_gmt":"2026-08-12T03:08:40","slug":"november-matchup-set-for-alabama-us-house-district-republicans-redrew-in-effort-to-keep-majority","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=40383","title":{"rendered":"November matchup set for Alabama US House district Republicans redrew in effort to keep majority"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"prism-article-body\">\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao MvWXB TjIXL aGjvy ebVHC \"><span class=\"oyrPY qlwaB AGxeB  \">MONTGOMERY, Ala. &#8212; <\/span>Democratic Rep. Shomari Figures will face a Republican endorsed by President Donald Trump in his fight for reelection to <a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/projects\/elections-2026\/alabama-special-primary-results-us-house\/#7\">an Alabama congressional seat<\/a> the GOP redrew as part of a larger effort to help the party keep control of the U.S. House.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">He will be running against state Rep. Rhett Marques, who won the GOP nomination for the 2nd Congressional District in Tuesday&#8217;s special primary election. Figures was unopposed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">The district is one of several Democratic-leaning districts across the South that were reshaped to Republican advantage in the wake of a <a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/supreme-court-voting-rights-congressional-redistricting-louisiana-aa5d7dbde7c13654f341d152c2ad5229\">U.S. Supreme Court ruling<\/a> earlier this year that severely weakened the <a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/voting-rights-act-takeaways-discrimination-suppression-412ddad8fa10633392bd5d8f0d4973c8\">Voting Rights Act<\/a>. Democrat Terri Sewell, Alabama\u2019s other Black representative, was unopposed in her primary and is favored to win reelection in her slightly redrawn 7th Congressional District seat in the fall, when she will face educator Ammie Akin, who won the GOP primary.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Figures, who was elected in 2024, maintains that his new district is winnable for him and said the choice in November is simple.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">\u201cMy opponent would be just another rubber stamp on the same policies that are making life more expensive for the people right here in Alabama,\u201d he said in a statement Tuesday night.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Marques, the owner of a tire and automotive service who has served in the Alabama Legislature since 2018, and also got the endorsement of U.S. Sen. Katie Britt.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">\u201cThe stakes in November could not be higher,\u201d he said after winning the Republican nomination.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Both parties have made the district a priority for the fall.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Figures <a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/alabama-house-shomari-figures-caroleene-dobson-a538c479e7cc06fb43adc4094bd84ee7\">won the seat<\/a> in 2024 after years of litigation under the Voting Rights Act. A federal court redrew the reliably red district after ruling that the GOP-controlled Legislature <a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/voting-rights-2022-midterm-elections-us-supreme-court-health-951245afb2827282e9c340417ca02375\">intentionally diluted<\/a> the voting power of Black residents, who make up 27% of Alabama&#8217;s population.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">The court said there should be a second Alabama district where Black people are a majority or near-majority. Figures&#8217; election gave the state, for the first time in its history, two Black representatives. They&#8217;re the only Democrats in Alabama&#8217;s seven-member congressional delegation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">In April, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a majority-Black district in Louisiana as an unconstitutional gerrymander that relied too heavily on race. Alabama Republicans, like those <a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/redistricting-supreme-court-voting-rights-act-b4e3a7be89305f94a4f05c09981406ce\">in other Southern states<\/a>, seized on the decision.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Seeking to implement a map previously drawn by the Legislature, lawmakers approved legislation to nullify the results of ongoing primaries and instead authorize Tuesday&#8217;s special primary elections. The Supreme Court in June <a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/supreme-court-alabama-redistricting-racial-discrimination-trump-3ec1bbe2999ab1cc23d4adb34a068af2\">granted Alabama permission<\/a> to switch maps.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Figures&#8217; new district is in the state\u2019s southeastern corner and includes the capital, Montgomery, and Tuskegee, both Democratic strongholds steeped in civil rights history. It sweeps through rural areas known for peanut and soybean farming, and has a heavy military presence, with an Air Force base in Montgomery and an Army base in Dale County.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">But the Republican redraw dropped its Black voting age population from 48% to 40%, making it more challenging for Democrats.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">During a recent forum, the GOP candidates answered questions about the Iran war, data centers and the district&#8217;s needs. But much of the attention was on Figures and the general election.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">\u201cShomari 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,\u201d Marques said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">He survived a six-way GOP primary and on Tuesday reached out to voters who supported his opponents. He said his fall campaign would focus on promoting safe streets and Christian values, and putting \u201cmore money in your pockets.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">\u201cWith your help, common sense will conquer craziness in November,\u201d Marques said in a statement.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Bill Ventress voted for Marques on Tuesday, saying he had a proven record in the district.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">\u201cHe was my city councilman. He\u2019s been my state representative. He\u2019s done a great job in every position he\u2019s been in, and I know he will again,\u201d Ventress said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">The National Republican Congressional Committee said it was supporting Marques and would focus on his support for Trump&#8217;s agenda in a state the president has won by wide margins three times.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Speaking recently at a community gathering at the Beulah Baptist Church, located not far from the path of the 1965 Selma-to-Montgomery voting rights march, Figures said Republicans won&#8217;t succeed in making the district \u201cunwinnable\u201d for him.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">\u201cThat\u2019s in large part because I\u2019ve had the privilege to represent over half of this new district already. We\u2019ve shown up in the communities. We\u2019ve shown them how we can deliver results,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">On Tuesday night, he cited his record of bringing money to the district for hospitals, law enforcement, housing, and water and transportation projects.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Some Black Alabamians see echoes of the past in the redistricting process, considering the Republican gerrymandering as a way to silence their political voice.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Maggie Walker, an 80-year-old retired educator from Montgomery, said she interpreted the Supreme Court\u2019s redistricting decision as an effort to install \u201cas many Republicans as possible\u201d in the House. But she is optimistic Figures can win.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">\u201cI think he represents us and the things that are important to our state,\u201d Walker said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC eTIW sUzSN \">\u201cWe\u2019re going backward with everything,\u201d said Isaiah Sankey, vice chairman of the Montgomery County Commission. \u201cBut it\u2019s OK \u2014 we are used to the struggle. It\u2019s move forward, you get pushed back.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>MONTGOMERY, Ala. &#8212; Democratic Rep. Shomari Figures will face a Republican endorsed by President Donald Trump in his fight for reelection to an Alabama congressional seat the GOP redrew as part of a larger effort to help the party keep control of the U.S. House. He will be running against state Rep. Rhett Marques, who&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":40384,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/i.abcnewsfe.com\/a\/b2158c51-4df9-486a-8057-57a3605565a7\/wirestory_2b24be4cac562b8efacf873b2434ea72_16x9.jpg?w=1600","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-40383","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-political-news"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40383","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=40383"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40383\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/40384"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=40383"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=40383"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=40383"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}