Race for U.S. House district in Alabama: Democrats seek to shift balance

The race for Alabama's 2nd congressional district, redrawn by a federal court to increase black voting power, has sparked traffic jams and competitive primary contests. Democrats see an opportunity to flip a congressional seat in the Black South in their favor in November. Republicans are eager to hold on to the district as control of the U.S. House of Representatives is on the line. A total of 18 people - 11 Democrats and seven Republicans - have filed to run in the new district.

The redrawn 2nd congressional district, which stretches from Mobile through Montgomery to the Georgia border, is seen as a unique opportunity for Democrats in a state dominated by Republicans. The contest is one of two lighted congressional primary in Alabama on Super Tuesday. In the 1st congressional district, two Republican congressmen - Jerry Karl and Barry Moore - are competing in a primary election that will end with one of them leaving office next year.

A federal court in November redrew new congressional districts after ruling that Alabama had illegally weakened the voting power of black residents. A three-judge jury said Alabama, which has 27 percent black residents, should have a second district where black voters make up a significant portion of the electoral population and have a reasonable opportunity to elect the candidate of their choice.

The large number of participants in the 2nd congressional district makes it likely that the race will go to a runoff on April 16 between the top two vote-getters. Only two candidates advance to the runoff if no candidate receives more than 50 percent of the vote.

Among the candidates are Shomari Figures, a Mobile resident and former deputy chief of staff to U.S. Attorney General Merrick B.

Also running for office are former Marine James Everhart, education consultant Phyllis Harvey-Hall, former businessman Willie Lenard, businessman Vimal Patel and Larry Darnell Simpson.

The eight Republicans running are Sen. Greg Allbritton of Etmore; former Senate Sen. Dick Brubaker of Pike Road; attorney Carolyn Dobson; business owner Carla DuPriest; real estate agent Hampton Harris; Stacy Shepperson of Saraland; and Newton City Councilwoman Belinda Thomas.

The redrawing of district boundaries led to an unusual contest in the Republican primary race in South Alabama's 1st congressional district. Moore has mounted a challenge to Karl, the current incumbent in the 2nd congressional district, from which he was excluded.

The two Republicans and their supporters accuse each other of voter registry violations, late tax payments and loyalty to former President Donald Trump.

Both are secondary terms in Congress following their 2020 elections for their respective districts. Moore is a former member of the Alabama Legislature. Carl served as chairman of the Mobile County Commission.

The winner will face Democrat Tom Holmes in November.