WASHINGTON — As the race for Alabama’s newly redrawn 2nd Congressional District heats up, incumbent Congressman Shomari Figures has about a $200,000 cash advantage over Republican frontrunner, State Rep. Rhett Marques.
After a series of Supreme Court rulings allowed them to, Alabama Republicans reverted to their originally-passed 2023 congressional map, hoping to flip the 2nd District seat red in this year’s election. But given recent polling and fundraising efforts, the race is shaping up to be competitive.
Recent campaign filings show Figures raised about $468,000 from May to June this year and has a war chest worth roughly $656,000 heading into campaign season. He spent about $138,000 in those two months.
Qualifying for the four districts impacted under the 2023 Legislative-drawn map ended June 2.
Marques, the frontrunner for the Republican nomination in the AL-2 race, raised $168,000 during May and June, according to FEC records. The Enterprise Republican has about $450,000 on hand ahead of the Aug. 11 special primary. President Donald Trump and U.S. Sen. Katie Britt have endorsed his bid.
Democratic leadership has begun to invest in Figures’ reelection bid, with contributions coming from Speaker Emeritus Nancy Pelosi, the number two House Democrat, House Minority Whip Rep. Katherine Clark of Massachusetts, and several Democratic-focused political action committees. Fellow Alabama Democratic Rep. Terri Sewell’s leadership PAC also contributed $5,000 to the congressman’s campaign.
PAC money made up just over half of Figures’ total contributions during the last two months.
For Marques, a majority of his fundraising came from individual contributions, and $50,000 stemmed from PACs. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Saks, donated to the state representative’s congressional bid in June. He also received contributions from House Republican leadership, including House Speaker Mike Johnson’s campaign committee.
Before Figures ramps up campaigning to keep his southern Alabama seat, Wiregrass Republicans will choose their nominee for the AL-2 seat next month.
Marques has a commanding fundraising lead over his primary opponents.
Republican Hampton Harris, an attorney, who was originally the only GOP candidate in the race before redistricting, raised $24,000 in the last two months and has about $219,000 on hand due to a previous large personal loan he gave to his campaign.
Christian Horn, who ran unsuccessfully for Alabama Secretary of State, did not report any fundraising numbers to the FEC. Former U.S. Department of Agriculture official David Matthews raised nearly $39,000 in May and June and has about $33,000 on hand.
Veteran Joshua McKee raised about $39,000 from April to June and has about $14,000 on hand. James Richardson raised about $350 and has less than $30 on hand.
1st District race
Former Republican U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl has a significant cash advantage over his primary opponents for Alabama’s new 1st Congressional District. The new district spanning Mobile and Baldwin counties is expected to be a Republican stronghold.
The Mobile Republican raised nearly $309,000 in May and June and spent about $140,000. Separately, his joint fundraising committee raised about $189,000 in the second quarter of the year.
He had a war chest of about $438,000 as of the end of June. President Donald Trump endorsed Carl after the new districts were solidified this year.
U.S. Sen. Katie Britt also endorsed the former congressman, and her leadership PAC contributed the maximum $10,000 in June.
Rep. Dale Strong, R-Huntsville, and House Republican leadership campaign committee also contributed to the former congressman this quarter.
U.S. Air Force veteran Austin Sidwell raised about $15,000 and has about $10,000 on hand. Other Republicans in the 1st District race, Lucas Burger and John Mills, did not report any fundraising from April to June, according to FEC records.
Democrat Clyde Jones is unopposed in the primary and has raised about $18,000 in May and June and has about $15,000 on hand.
The special primaries are Aug. 11. The general election is Nov. 3.