A voter’s guide to the Alabama 2nd Congressional District runoffs

Voters in Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District go to the polls Tuesday to select major-party candidates for the November general election.

In the Democratic runoff, House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels, D-Huntsville, will face attorney Shomari Figures of Mobile.

In the GOP race, former state Senator Dick Brewbaker, R-Pike Road and attorney Caroleene Dobson will seek their party’s nomination.

The four candidates emerged from a crowded field of 18 candidates — 11 Democrats and seven Republicans — in their March primaries. Figures got 24,980 (43.4%) votes in the March 5 Democratic primary, while runner-up Daniels had 12,879 votes (22.4%) in the certified election results. Republican primary front runner Brewbaker garnered 22,589 votes (37%) in the primary, while runner-up Dobson received 15,102 votes (24.8%) in the certified election results.

The district, drawn to give Black voters the opportunity to elect two U.S. House representatives, is expected to lean Democratic in November. Daniels and Figures are both Black. If either man wins the general election in November, it will be the first time in Alabama’s 200-year history that the state sent two Black representatives to the U.S. House at the same time. Republicans have maintained that the district is competitive and can be won with the right messaging.

When do polls open?

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday.

Where do I find my polling place?

The Alabama Secretary of State’s website allows you to check voter registration and the location of your polling place. You can find it here.

What do I need to vote?

Voters must present a valid photo ID before voting. Valid forms of ID include:

• Alabama driver’s license (not expired or expired less than 60 days)
• Alabama Law Enforcement Agency digital driver’s license
• Alabama Non-Driver ID (not expired or expired less than 60 days)
• Alabama Photo Voter ID card
• State-issued ID (Alabama or any other state)
• Federal-issued ID
• U.S. Passport
• Employee ID from the federal government; state of Alabama; county; municipality, board or other entity of Alabama
• Student or employee ID from a public or private post-secondary educational institution in Alabama or other states (including colleges, universities, postgraduate technical and professional schools)
• Digital student or employee ID from a public or private post-secondary educational institution in Alabama or other states (including colleges, universities, postgraduate technical and professional schools)
• Military ID
• Tribal ID

Where is the district located?

The 2nd Congressional District runs from Mobile County through the southern Black Belt and to the Georgia border. The district includes the following counties: parts of Mobile and Clarke, Washington, Monroe, Conecuh, Butler, Crenshaw, Troy, Montgomery, Bullock, Macon, Russell and Barbour.

How did the seat become vacant?

The district emerged out of a lawsuit over congressional maps approved by the Alabama Legislature in 2021.

Plaintiffs argued in a federal lawsuit that the Legislature’s map unconstitutionally packed Black voters into a single district, making it harder for them to meaningfully participate in the political process. A federal court in 2022 agreed, citing the racial polarization in voting in Alabama, where white voters tend to support Republicans and Black voters tend to support Democrats.

The U.S. Supreme Court rejected an appeal of the ruling last June. The Alabama Legislature last summer drew a new map, but the federal court rejected it, saying it did not follow their instructions. The court had a third party draw a new map that it approved last October. It created a new 7th Congressional District in west Alabama that is majority-Black, and a new 2nd Congressional District that is near-majority Black.

The new 2nd Congressional District has a Black Voting Age Population (BVAP) of 49%.

Does the seat have a partisan lean?

The new district is likely Democratic, but Republican candidates have maintained the district is competitive. Under the new congressional lines, President Biden would have won the district in 2020 by 12 points, according to the Cook Political Report.

What issues dominate the race?

For Democrats, health care was a central issue in the race. Daniels and Figures prioritized Medicaid expansion and reproductive rights. Both candidates said they support codifying Roe v. Wade at a federal level.

Figures said he can use his background in federal government to leverage federal resources for health care if Alabama won’t expand Medicaid. Daniels highlighted his legislative track record and proposals for attracting physicians to underserved areas to address health care disparities.

Education was also prominent in the race, with both candidates advocating for comprehensive approaches to early childhood education and workforce development. Both candidates also expressed support for LGBTQ+ rights and environmental initiatives.

The Republicans focused on national security, economic prosperity, and social values. Brewbaker and Dobson each addressed concerns related to international relations, border security and immigration, as well as issues such as agriculture and energy independence.

Brewbaker criticized what he saw as a lack of moral clarity in the current administration’s approach to conflicts in the Middle East and advocated for robust measures to secure the U.S.-Mexico border. Dobson  centered on issues such as supporting food producers, achieving energy independence, and addressing concerns related to immigration.

Both Republican candidates praised the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization ruling, which overturned 1973’s Roe v. Wade and ended federal protections for abortion. Brewbaker said he supports the Supreme Court decision to bring the abortion issue to the state level, and that he would be cautious of a national ban. Dobson declined to say whether she’d support a national ban, but said that it’s a “state’s rights issue” and praised Alabama’s near-total ban on abortions.

What happens after today?

The winner from each party will become the party nominee and will face each other in the November 5 general election.

Will the results alter control of the U.S. House of Representatives?

Possibly. Republicans currently control the lower chamber with a thin majority, holding 218 seats. Democrats currently hold 213 seats, with four vacant seats. Republicans only need eight of the 22 seats considered toss-ups by the Cook Political Report to maintain control of the House.

Democratic Candidates

Anthony Daniels

Age: 41

Residence: Huntsville

Occupation: Business owner; former teacher

Education: B.S., Elementary and Early Childhood Education, Alabama A&M University, 2005; M.S., Special Education, Alabama A&M University, 2010.

Party: Democratic

Previous political experience/campaign: Alabama House of Representatives, 2014-present; Alabama House Minority Leader, 2017-present.

Fundraising: Through March 27, Daniels had raised $457,306 and spent $416,550.

Profile: Anthony Daniels focuses on economic development

Shomari Figures

Age: 38

Residence: Mobile

Occupation: Lawyer

Education: B.A., Criminal Justice and History, University of Alabama, 2006; J.D., University of Alabama School of Law, 2010.

Party: Democratic

Previous Political Experience/Campaign: First time candidate

Fundraising: Through March 27, Figures raised $387,498 and spent $338,836. A group called Protect Progress spent $1.7 million in support of his campaign.

Profile: Shomari Figures wants to build up communities

Republican Candidates

Dick Brewbaker

Age: 63

Residence: Pike Road

Occupation: President, Brewbaker Motors

Education: B.S., Economics and U.S. History, Vanderbilt University, 1983.

Party: Republican

Previous political experience/campaign: Alabama House of Representatives, 2002-2006; Alabama Senate, 2010-2018.

Fundraising: Brewbaker raised $1.76 million and spent $1.7 million through March 27.

Profile: Dick Brewbaker looks to border, foreign aid in GOP runoff

Caroleene Dobson

Age: 37

Residence: Montgomery

Occupation: Real estate attorney

Education: A.B., History and Literature, Harvard College, 2009; J.D., Baylor University School of Law, 2012.

Party: Republican

Previous political experience/campaign: First-time political candidate.

Fundraising: Dobson raised $1.2 million and spent $1.1 million through March 27.

Profile: Caroleene Dobson emphasizes agriculture, energy independence