MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The Cook Political Report shifted Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District race rating toward Democrats Friday, from likely Republican to lean Republican.
The nonpartisan analysis cited private polls showing Democratic U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures and State Rep. Rhett Marques in a dead heat even as President Donald Trump would have won the newly redrawn district by 14 points in 2024. Both parties see the seat as critical to winning control of the U.S. House.
The race rater also highlighted how national Democrats are spending heavily on the race to try and keep the seat blue this year.
Democrats are hoping the gutting of the Voting Rights Act will motivate voters to head to the polls in the wake of redistricting that upended Figures’ old 2nd District.
While Democrats had a lead in ad spending earlier in the general election campaign, outside groups supporting both candidates have ramped up spending in the final weeks before the election.
But Figures entered October with a major cash advantage over Marques, with a $1.38 million war chest compared to Marques, who had $328,000 cash on hand, according to the latest campaign finance records.
The Cook Political Report moved a total of 19 congressional races in Democrats’ direction on Friday.
The general election is Nov. 3.