Republican state Rep. Rhett Marques, who was endorsed by President Donald Trump, took home a huge victory in the Alabama GOP primary race for the newly drawn 2nd Congressional District. This is a major victory for the Republican Party who is seeking to defeat Democratic Rep. Shomari Figures, who won the seat in 2024 following the Supreme Court affirming that the state’s GOP-drawn congressional map discriminated against black voters.
However, earlier this year, the Supreme Court changed its tune, making a path for Alabama to use a map that is more favorable to Republicans, eliminating one of Alabama’s two majority-black seats. Under these new boundaries, the 2nd District no longer includes Mobile, which makes it an uphill battle for Figures to win reelection.
The University of Virginia’s Center for Politics says the race is likely to go to the GOP candidate. Marques defeated five other candidates in the Republican primary, receiving 16,411 votes, or 50.03%. Another candidate, Hampton Harris, came in second place with 7,100 votes, or 21.65%, with David Matthews pulling up third with 5,716 votes, or 17.43%.
According to an article from the Alabama Reporter, Joshua McKee received 1,537 votes, or 4.69%, while James Richardson received 1,078 votes, or 3.29%. Coming in dead last was Christian Horn who only received 959 votes, or 2.92%. The report then revealed that a total of 32,801 votes were cast in the 2nd District GOP primary, which is a total turnout of 5.24%.
Marques led the race in virtually every county except for Lowndes and Dale, both of which were moved into the newly drawn district earlier in the year. Harris led in Lowndes County, while Matthews took first in Dale County. “The stakes in November could not be higher. If you want more money in your pockets, safe streets for your kids to play on, strong communities, and our Christian values to be preserved for our kids and their kids, I’d be proud to earn your vote,” Marques went on to say in a statement.
With your help, common sense will conquer craziness in November,” he added. Marques will now go head-to-head with Democratic Rep. Shomari Figures in the general election this November. Figures was the only Democrat who qualified for the special election and ran unopposed. ““The choice in this race is simple; I have worked for the people of Alabama because that is who we should be working for,” Figures remarked.
“My opponent would be just another rubber stamp on the same policies that are making life more expensive for the people right here in Alabama. I look forward to making that choice clear across Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District, winning in November and continuing to fight for Alabama,” he went on to add in his statement.
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Marques had a massive advantage over other candidates in the GOP primary, having secured the endorsement of President Trump. He also received an endorsement from Sen. Katie Britt (R-AL). Republicans on the national stage commented that the redrawn district provides the party with an opportunity to regain a seat that was lost to Democrats in the 2024 election cycle. The general election is scheduled for November 3.
Featured Image: screenshot from embedded video