Republican Rhett Marques, a two-term Alabama House member from Enterprise, confirmed to Alabama Daily News Wednesday he will consider a bid for Congress if current U.S. Rep. Barry Moore, R-Enterprise, runs for U.S. Senate.
Moore is making a “big” announcement Aug. 15 and is expected to try to replace U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, who is running for governor.
“We’re just waiting to see what Barry does, and we’ll take a look at what the options hold,” Marques told ADN Wednesday morning. “I’m happy in the Alabama House, but if Barry does run for Senate, we’ll look at options, see what doors open, and go from there.”
Speculation that Marques will enter the race was first reported by 1819 News.
Alabama’s 1st Congressional District stretches across the state’s nine southernmost counties.
Moore won the seat last year after congressional redistricting drew him out of his previous 2nd District. He defeated incumbent Congressman Jerry Carl, R-Mobile.
Carl is expected to try to win the seat back and on Wednesday teased via social media his own “major announcement” coming soon. The banner photo on his X profile says “Carl for Congress.”
I have a very big announcement coming soon for the great folks of Alabama! Stay tuned to be the first to hear! pic.twitter.com/6lTAO07iDr
— Jerry Carl (@CarlForAlabama) August 6, 2025
Carl is expected to make his announcement after Moore’s event on Aug. 15 and before the end of the month.
While Marques lives on the east side of the congressional district, he has strong ties to west side. He grew up in Spanish Fort in Baldwin County and went to Fair Hope High School.
“I lived there for 27 years of my life and moved to Enterprise in 2000,” he said.
Asked about issues in the district, Marques began discussing infrastructure in Mobile, agriculture in the Wiregrass and the importance of Fort Rucker. But he doesn’t want to get ahead of himself until Moore makes an official announcement.
“We’re not closing doors,” he said. “As they come open, we’ll go through them. But if nothing opens, I’m happy where I am.”