Shomali Figure wins Democratic primary runoff in Alabama’s new district, CNN Project

CNN
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Former U.S. Department of Justice official Shomali Figures is expected to win the Democratic primary runoff for Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District, per CNN Projects, making the seat the first time in history that two black House members from Alabama have held the seat. It was to be redrawn under a new map where lawmakers could serve together.

He is expected to defeat state House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels in the runoff, with both receiving more than 50% of the vote in the first round of 11 candidates held last month. A final vote was then held. The Republican primary was also decided in a runoff Tuesday, with real estate attorney Caroleen Dobson defeating former state Sen. Dick Brewbaker to seal her nomination.

Mr. Figures will be the favorite against Mr. Dobson in November in a seat that spans the southern part of the state and will support President Joe Biden by a 12-point margin in 2020. If Figures wins, he will make history with U.S. Rep. Terry Sewell. His fellow black Democrat is favorite to win an eighth term in the neighboring seat of Deep Blue. Alabama has never had two black members of its Congressional delegation at the same time.

The new seat comes after a three-judge panel approved a new map last fall that significantly increases the district’s black population, making it a challenge for Democrats to take control of the U.S. House of Representatives in this year’s elections. It’s a good opportunity. The battle over Alabama’s new maps has reached the U.S. Supreme Court, which in a surprise ruling ordered commissioners to include the state’s majority-black Second District, or “districts very close to it.” The opinion of the meeting was affirmed.

Former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, chairman of the National Democratic Party’s redistricting group, said in a statement that Tuesday’s election is “another step toward progress and increased voter turnout as a result of the state’s new, fair maps.” said.

“Alabama voters now stand on the brink of making history in November when, for the first time, Black Alabamans will be able to elect two representatives who truly reflect their political aspirations,” Holder said. .

Before the lawsuit, Alabama (27% black population) had one black-majority district out of seven.

Before joining the campaign, Mr. Figures served as Deputy Chief of Staff to Attorney General Merrick Garland. He also worked in the Obama administration and also served as legal adviser to Congress.

The man comes from a prominent family in Alabama politics. His late father, Michael Figures, was a state senator and attorney who helped win a lawsuit against the United Klans of America and others over the lynching of black teenagers in 1981, forcing the group to become made him bankrupt. Shomali Figures’ mother, Vivian Davis Figures, succeeded her husband in the state Senate, where she still serves today.

The District 2 election saw total advertising spend of more than $8 million through Monday, including advertisers in both the first primary and the runoffs for both sides.

The main factor on the Democratic side is the existence of Protect Progress, a super PAC in the professional figure world.Protect Progress is funded by cryptocurrency interests and has the highest campaign advertising expenditure among advertisers. It cost $2.7 million.

Mr. Dobson’s campaign had spent a total of about $1.7 million on ads through Monday, portraying himself as a “Trump conservative” and portraying his chief opponent, Mr. Brewbaker, as a “tax-raising Trump-hater.” He was pursued as a mere politician.

CNN’s Fredreka Shorten contributed to this report.