Shomari Figures elected as first congressman for Alabama's redrawn majority-black district
Shomari Figures, the Black Democrat running in an Alabama congressional district redrawn last year by a court order, has won the seat over Republican Caroleene Dobson, NBC News projects.
Shomari Figures, the Black Democrat running in an Alabama congressional district redrawn last year by a court order, has won the seat over Republican Caroleene Dobson, NBC News projects.
With 84% of votes reported Tuesday, Figures had 54.8% of the vote to 45.1% for Dobson.
In 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld an earlier ruling stating that Alabama’s district map likely discriminated against Black voters and mandated redrawing the 2nd District. The new area has a majority of Black voters — 47.6%, compared to 45% who are white.
A three-judge panel reshaped the district that now includes places like Tuskegee, Montgomery and Mobile, giving Black voters the power to have a say over who is elected where they live.
Figures, who worked in the Obama administration, grew up in Mobile, which is partially included in the district. His late father, Michael Figures, was an Alabama state senator and his mother serves in that role now. The son’s win is critical in the Democrats’ efforts to regain control of the House.
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