Alabama’s redrawn US House map spurs primary runoffs and ousts an incumbent on Super Tuesday
Alabama’s redrawn US House map spurs primary runoffs and ousts an incumbent on Super Tuesday
Robert Ward leaves the volunteer fire station in Cusseta, Ala., after voting during a primary election, Tuesday, March 5, 2024. Sixteen states and a U.S. territory hold their 2024 nominating contests on Super Tuesday. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Robert Ward leaves the volunteer fire station in Cusseta, Ala., after voting during a primary election, Tuesday, March 5, 2024. Sixteen states and a U.S. territory hold their 2024 nominating contests on Super Tuesday. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Robert Ward leaves the volunteer fire station in Cusseta, Ala., after voting during a primary election, Tuesday, March 5, 2024. Sixteen states and a U.S. territory hold their 2024 nominating contests on Super Tuesday. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
A voter exits the Seale Courthouse election area in Russell County during a primary election, Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in Seale, Ala. Fifteen states and a U.S. territory hold their 2024 nominating contests on Super Tuesday this year. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
A voter exits the Seale Courthouse election area in Russell County during a primary election, Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in Seale, Ala. Fifteen states and a U.S. territory hold their 2024 nominating contests on Super Tuesday this year. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
Voters enter and exit a polling facility at the Seale Courthouse in Russell County during a primary election, Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in Seale, Ala. About 6,000 voters in a new congressional district, that includes Russell County, formed to boost Black representation, received postcards with incorrect voting information ahead of Tuesday’s primary election. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Voters enter and exit a polling facility at the Seale Courthouse in Russell County during a primary election, Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in Seale, Ala. About 6,000 voters in a new congressional district, that includes Russell County, formed to boost Black representation, received postcards with incorrect voting information ahead of Tuesday’s primary election. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
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)
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)
A voter enters Tuscaloosa County Ward 5, Montgomery Fire Department, to vote during a primary election, Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in Northport, Ala. Fifteen states and a U.S. territory hold their 2024 nominating contests on Super Tuesday this year. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
A voter enters Tuscaloosa County Ward 5, Montgomery Fire Department, to vote during a primary election, Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in Northport, Ala. Fifteen states and a U.S. territory hold their 2024 nominating contests on Super Tuesday this year. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
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)
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)
Judy Taylor, left, chair of the Tuscaloosa County Democratic Party, and Donna Foster, chair of the Tuscaloosa Chapter Alabama Democratic Conference, prepare signs for the Biden Harris campaign and Democratic U.S. Rep. Terry Sewell, during a primary election, Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at the Tuscaloosa County Ward 47 Bobby Miller Activity Center in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Fifteen states and a U.S. territory hold their 2024 nominating contests on Super Tuesday this year. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Judy Taylor, left, chair of the Tuscaloosa County Democratic Party, and Donna Foster, chair of the Tuscaloosa Chapter Alabama Democratic Conference, prepare signs for the Biden Harris campaign and Democratic U.S. Rep. Terry Sewell, during a primary election, Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at the Tuscaloosa County Ward 47 Bobby Miller Activity Center in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Fifteen states and a U.S. territory hold their 2024 nominating contests on Super Tuesday this year. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Voters enter Tuscaloosa County Ward 36 during a primary election, Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at Stillman College’s Cordell Wynn Humanities & Fine Arts Center, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Voters enter Tuscaloosa County Ward 36 during a primary election, Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at Stillman College’s Cordell Wynn Humanities & Fine Arts Center, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Voters enter a polling facility at the Seale Courthouse in Russell County during a primary election, Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in Seale, Ala. Fifteen states and a U.S. territory hold their 2024 nominating contests on Super Tuesday this year. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Voters enter a polling facility at the Seale Courthouse in Russell County during a primary election, Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in Seale, Ala. Fifteen states and a U.S. territory hold their 2024 nominating contests on Super Tuesday this year. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
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)
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)
Voters greet one another during a primary election, Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at Stillman College’s Cordell Wynn Humanities & Fine Arts Center, Tuscaloosa County Ward 36, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Voters greet one another during a primary election, Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at Stillman College’s Cordell Wynn Humanities & Fine Arts Center, Tuscaloosa County Ward 36, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
A voter departs the Tuscaloosa County Courthouse Annex, Ward 28 for Tuscaloosa County, during a primary election, Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
A voter departs the Tuscaloosa County Courthouse Annex, Ward 28 for Tuscaloosa County, during a primary election, Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
A voter enters Tuscaloosa County’s Ward 44 Belk Activity Center during a primary election, Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Fifteen states and a U.S. territory hold their 2024 nominating contests on Super Tuesday this year. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
A voter enters Tuscaloosa County’s Ward 44 Belk Activity Center during a primary election, Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Fifteen states and a U.S. territory hold their 2024 nominating contests on Super Tuesday this year. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
Voters enter and exit Tuscaloosa County Ward 36 during a primary election, Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at Stillman College’s Cordell Wynn Humanities & Fine Arts Center, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Voters enter and exit Tuscaloosa County Ward 36 during a primary election, Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at Stillman College’s Cordell Wynn Humanities & Fine Arts Center, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Voters enter and exit at Tuscaloosa County Ward 21 Northport City Hall, during a primary election, Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in Northport, Ala. Fifteen states and a U.S. territory hold their 2024 nominating contests on Super Tuesday this year. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Voters enter and exit at Tuscaloosa County Ward 21 Northport City Hall, during a primary election, Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in Northport, Ala. Fifteen states and a U.S. territory hold their 2024 nominating contests on Super Tuesday this year. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Voters arrive and depart in the lunchtime hour at Tuscaloosa county Ward 23 Church of the Highlands, during a primary election, Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Fifteen states and a U.S. territory hold their 2024 nominating contests on Super Tuesday this year. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Voters arrive and depart in the lunchtime hour at Tuscaloosa county Ward 23 Church of the Highlands, during a primary election, Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Fifteen states and a U.S. territory hold their 2024 nominating contests on Super Tuesday this year. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Robert Gene Booker, running for Russell County commissioner walks in a parking lot outside a polling facility at the Seale Courthouse in Russell County during a primary election, Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in Seale, Ala. Fifteen states and a U.S. territory hold their 2024 nominating contests on Super Tuesday this year. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Robert Gene Booker, running for Russell County commissioner walks in a parking lot outside a polling facility at the Seale Courthouse in Russell County during a primary election, Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in Seale, Ala. Fifteen states and a U.S. territory hold their 2024 nominating contests on Super Tuesday this year. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Political signs stand for view during a primary election, Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at Stillman College’s Cordell Wynn Humanities & Fine Arts Center, Tuscaloosa County Ward 36, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Political signs stand for view during a primary election, Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at Stillman College’s Cordell Wynn Humanities & Fine Arts Center, Tuscaloosa County Ward 36, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama voters shook up the state’s congressional delegation Tuesday, throwing out one Republican incumbent and sending four candidates to runoffs in a district redrawn by a federal court to give Black voters greater opportunity to elect a representative of their choice.
Republican Rep. Barry Moore won an unusual and closely fought primary in the 1st Congressional District against fellow GOP Rep. Jerry Carl. After the courts overhauled the district lines, Moore was drawn out of the 2nd Congressional District. While he could have run for his current House seat — and moved into the district if he won — Moore opted to challenge Carl in the more solidly Republican 1st District.
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Runoffs will be required to decide the general election match-up in the revamped 2nd District, a race that will be closely watched in November as Democrats seek to flip a once reliably GOP congressional seat in the Deep South.
For the Democratic nomination, Shomari Figures and state Rep. Anthony Daniels will meet in an April 16 runoff. Daniels, of Huntsville, is the minority leader in the state House of Representatives. Figures served as deputy chief of staff to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland. Figures and Daniels have both stressed their government experience, Figures at the federal level and Daniels in Montgomery.
On the Republican side, former state Sen. Dick Brewbaker will face attorney Caroleene Dobson to decide the party’s nomination. Republicans are keen to maintain their hold on the seat this November, with control of the U.S. House of Representatives on the line.
The 2nd District was redrawn by a federal court last fall after judges ruled the state’s previous map likely violated the Voting Rights Act.
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. The new 2nd Congressional District stretches from Mobile through Montgomery to the Georgia border.
The race drew a crowded field with 11 Democrats and seven Republicans in the primaries, making it likely that a runoff would be needed to decide the nomination. A runoff is triggered when one candidate does not capture 50% of the primary vote.
Carl and Moore’s primary was also heated, with the two Republicans and their supporters trading 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, and Carl served as president of the Mobile County Commission.
“I am grateful to God, my family, the voters, my staff and the many dedicated volunteers and supporters who made tonight possible,” Moore said Tuesday night.
Moore will face Democrat Tom Holmes in November.
In addition to Figures and Daniels, Democratic candidates in the 2nd District included 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 were former U.S. Marine James Averhart, education consultant Phyllis Harvey-Hall, retired businessman Willie J. Lenard, businessman Vimal Patel and Larry Darnell Simpson.
The other five Republicans who qualified to run were state Sen. Greg Albritton of Atmore; business owner Karla M. DuPriest; real estate agent Hampton Harris; Stacey T. Shepperson of Saraland; and Newton City Council member Belinda Thomas.