MOBILE — The first two rounds are over, and the final all-important rubber match is now set. Newcomer Caroleene Dobson won the Republican nomination for Congress in Alabama’s second district and will now face Shomari Figures, winner of the Democrat nomination.
Dobson, a first-time candidate, defeated long-time state legislator Dick Brewbaker of Montgomery in a runoff Tuesday. Dobson is a real estate attorney in Montgomery, and Brewbaker is a retired automobile dealer.
The Associated Press called the race for Dobson at 8:55 p.m. after polls closed at 7.
At 11 p.m., returns from the Alabama Secretary of State showed Dobson with 14,688 votes, or 58%. Brewbaker had 10,454 votes or 42%.
It had become an open issue in the campaign: Would Republican voters in the newly drawn south Alabama congressional district two prefer a new face or a long-time state legislator?
Dobson’s general election opponent, Shomari Figures, won the Democrat nomination over State Rep. Anthony Daniels (D-Huntsville).
Figures is a former staffer in the Biden administration and a former deputy attorney general under Attorney General Merrick Garland.
He is the son of State Senator Vivian Figures (D-Mobile). His father, State Senator Michael Figures (D-Mobile), died in office in 1996 and was succeeded by his wife, who has been re-elected ever since and continues to serve now.
Shomari Figures had been living in Washington and returned to Alabama to run for Congress.
The newly drawn second congressional district is considered vital by national political parties because of the close margin by which Republicans control the House of Representatives — effectively one vote. AL-2 is demographically a swing district and could make the difference in control of the U.S. House. That control is expected to be a major issue in the Dobson vs. Figures campaign for the second district, with Republicans asserting that a Democrat victory in the district could give control to “a Nancy-Pelosi-style Speaker of the House.”
Dobson spoke to TV interviewers at a spirited election night watch at Stables, a downtown Mobile restaurant. She painted differences between herself and her Democrat appointment, which she expects will become issues in the general election.
“Alabama’s Second Congressional District needs someone who will fight for us, and I will," she said. "In Congress, I will listen to you, represent everyone in this district, and do what’s best for you, not the special interests in Washington. This fight is personal to me; it is about my kids, your kids, and the future of our home district. I love this state; I was born here, and it is my Alabama roots and values that I will take to Washington to represent you.”
Figures said in a statement, “Thank you to the people of District 2. At the end of the day this race is not about me. This race has always been about the people and places that call our community home. It’s about our teachers, public service workers, people in uniform, our seniors, and the children of our District. To all of those who have placed their trust and confidence in me, thank you. Now, we move forward with a unified party and mission to win in November.”
Dobson will likely run with presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump, and Figures will likely run with President Joe Biden.
Several Mobile politicos attended Dobson's election watch party including:
Sheriff Paul Burch
Roger McConnell, former State GOP Chair
Judge-elect Johanni Bucci
GOP minority activist and radio host George Williams
Realtor and unofficial cousin to everyone in Mobile, Mamun Sidiq
Former deputy and candidate for License Commissioner David “P’nut Melton
Ashley Rich, Supernumerary District Attorney
Ashleigh Long, circuit clerk-elect
Karla DuPriest, former congressional candidate
Jackie Zeigler, State School Board member
Former State Rep. Victor Gaston
Political activist Chad Niblett
Counties in the new second congressional district are Washington, southern Clarke, Monroe, Conecuh, Butler, Crenshaw, Pike, Montgomery, Bullock, Macon, Russell, Barbour and parts of Mobile: most of the city of Mobile, most predominantly black precincts, and most of north Mobile County. It extends from the Mississippi line at Mobile to the Georgia line at Russell County.
The district was drawn pursuant to a federal court order.
There is no incumbent in AL-2 as U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) was redistricted into AL-1. Moore defeated AL-1 incumbent Jerry Carl in the March 5 Republican primary.
Jim ‘Zig’ Zeigler writes about Alabama’s people, places, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former Alabama Public Service Commissioner and State Auditor. You can reach him for comments at ZeiglerElderCare@yahoo.com.
Don’t miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning.
