MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Congressional candidate Shomari Figures announced two new endorsements Monday from members of the Alabama House, further dividing Democratic state lawmakers in what has become a hotly contested race in the state’s newly drawn 2nd Congressional District.
Figures faces Alabama House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels, D-Huntsville, in next week’s primary runoff election. Both men have scored key endorsements from Democratic state lawmakers.
Figures announced that Reps. Juandalynn Givan, D-Birmingham, and Jeremy Gray, D-Opelika, have endorsed his campaign, which, alongside Rep. Napoleon Bracy, D-Saraland, marks three Democratic members of the Alabama House that have backed his campaign. All three lawmakers were candidates in the congressional race primary. Another endorsement from State Sen. Kirk Hatcher, D-Montgomery, who had considered running, is planned for Tuesday.
“These endorsements from Reps. Givan and Gray, in addition to the endorsement of former District 2 candidate and Representative Bracy, send a powerful message that voters and leaders across District 2 believe in our ability to bring federal resources to this District and move Alabama forward together,” Figures said Monday in a statement.
As of Monday, Daniels’ campaign has still received more support from Democratic state lawmakers, including endorsements from Reps. Berry Forte, D-Eufaula, Curtis Travis, D-Tuscaloosa, Patrice McClammy, D-Montgomery, and Philip Ensler, D-Montgomery, as well as from State Sen. Merika Coleman, D-Birmingham. Coleman was also a primary candidate for the seat.
Speaking with Alabama Daily News, Daniels championed the endorsements his campaign had received as including a large number of state and local leaders.
Aside from the aforementioned support from four Alabama House members and one state senator, Daniels’ campaign has been endorsed by 13 county commissioners, four mayors, and a number of other local leaders, including various school board members, probate judges, and several organizations, including the Alabama New South Alliance and the Professional Firefighters of Alabama.
“I have the unified support among the delegation members in Montgomery, and so for me, my focus has been on getting support from local communities, but we also appreciate the support we’ve received from Sen. Coleman,” Daniels told ADN.
Figures’ campaign has not been absent of support from organizations either, having been endorsed by the Mobile Baptist Ministers Conference, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, and the College Democrats of America, among others.
“Voters in this District need leadership that will meet the moment we’re in and address the critical challenges before us, and I’m confident in the leadership and experience of Shomari Figures,” Givan said in a statement on her support for Figures’ campaign.
As of March 27, Daniels has outraised Figures by nearly $100,000, receiving $457,306 in campaign contributions to Figures’ $361,998.
The largest contributions to Daniels’ campaign have been four donations of $5,000 from political action committees, including from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers PAC and the Torch Technologies PAC.
Simularily, Figures’ largest contributions have also come from various PACs, including $5,000 donations from the United Parcel Service PAC and the American Works Federal PAC. Unlike Daniels, however, Figures funded his campaign with his own money to the tune of $25,000, a contribution he made on Dec. 31.
As of late March, Daniels’ campaign had $40,756 cash on hand, and Figures’ campaign, $48,662.
The winner of the Democrats’ runoff will face either Dick Brewbaker or Caroleene Dobson in the Nov. 5 general election.