House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels (D-Huntsville) announced Thursday his candidacy for Alabama’s new Congressional District 2.
While Huntsville isn’t in District 2, Daniels’s hometown is. He was raised by his grandparents in Midway in Bullock County and graduated from Bullock County High School.
“At the end of the day, tell me another candidate that has roots to Union Springs or any rural area in the district that’s talking about running. There’s not a candidate out there that has the understanding and the knowledge and the experiences that I’ve had growing up in Bullock County. Bullock County has, as of a year or two ago, the second-highest increase in poverty in the United States of America. Do you think I like seeing those statistics? No, not at all. Looking at all those rural communities that are in a similar category, I’m not going to stand for that,” Daniels told 1819 News in October. “A district that is rural and urban deserves a person that understands rural and urban.”
State Sen. Greg Albritton (R-Atmore), former State Sen. Dick Brewbaker (R-Montgomery), and Caroleene Dobson, a Montgomery attorney, have recently announced their bids for the Republican nomination in District 2.
Several Democratic candidates have already announced, including State Rep. Juandalynn Givan (D-Birmingham), State Sen. Kirk Hatcher (D-Montgomery), State Rep. Napoleon Bracy (D-Prichard), and State Rep. Jeremy Gray (D-Opelika).
The qualifying deadline is Friday. The primary in Alabama is scheduled for March 5.
The District 2 seat is currently held by U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise). However, the district was drastically remade by a federal court recently and now may be more winnable for a Democratic candidate. Moore’s hometown was moved into the first congressional district under the new map for 2024. Moore announced last week he was running for the Republican nomination in District 1.
The district now stretches into most of Mobile, up to Washington County, and over to the Alabama-Georgia border in Russell and Barbour Counties. Huntsville isn’t in the district, but there’s no residency requirement for members of Congress.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email caleb.taylor@1819News.com.
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