Former U.S. Department of Justice official Shomari Figures and Rep. Anthony Daniels are running in the Democratic primary runoff in Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District on April 16.
Figures and Daniels were the top two finishers in the 11-candidate primary on March 5, receiving 43.5% and 22.4% of the vote, respectively. The two advanced to a runoff because neither received more than 50% of the vote.
The primary runoff is taking place in the context of court-ordered redistricting. In October 2023, a three-judge panel of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama approved a new congressional district map for Alabama after federal courts found two previous redistricting efforts violated the Voting Rights Act.
The October 2023 map redrew the 2nd Congressional District to have a 48.7% Black voting-age population, which political commentators say will tilt it towards Democrats.
Republican U.S. Rep. Barry Moore is running in the 1st District, leaving the 2nd District open.
Daniels is the minority leader of the Alabama House of Representatives. Daniels says he has a record of delivering results as minority leader that sets him apart. Daniels says his record includes working with Republicans in the legislative majority to pass a bill exempting overtime pay from state income tax.
Daniels says he was inspired to run by the opportunity to represent rural Alabamians like his grandparents. Daniels says he is “the only candidate remaining not bought and paid for by outside special interests that do not represent the people of the second congressional district.”
Figures is a former federal official who has worked in the Obama administration, Congress and as counselor to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland. Figures says his parents, both of whom served in the state Legislature, inspired him to run. Figures says he wants to improve the economic situation in Alabama.
He says his federal government experience will help him deliver results. Figures says he is the only candidate who lives in the district: “One thing that was clear in this last election is how strong allegiances are within this district…we had several candidates, including state Rep. Daniels, who do not live in the district.”
As of March 19, The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter, Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales, and Larry J. Sabato’s Crystal Ball each rated the general election Likely Democratic.
