AL Reflector: “The race to fill Alabama’s new 2nd Congressional District will be a crowded one.
At least 21 candidates – 13 Democrats and eight Republicans – had entered the race by the time qualifying ended at 5 p.m. on Friday.
As of 5 p.m. Friday, the Democratic candidates were:
- James Averhart, a retired U.S. Marine and former 2020 congressional candidate;
- Rep. Napoleon Bracy, Jr., D-Prichard;
- Sen. Merika Coleman, D- Pleasant Grove;
- House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels, D-Huntsville;
- Shomari Figures, a former deputy chief of staff to the U.S. attorney general and the son of Sen. Vivian Davis Figures, D-Mobile;
- Brian Gary;
- Rep. Juandalynn Givan, D-Birmingham;
- Rep. Jeremy Gray, D-Opelika;
- Phyllis Harvey-Hall, an education consultant and 2020 and 2022 congressional candidate;
- Willie J. Lenard;
- Vimal Patel, a realtor;
- Larry Darnell Simpson, a musician;
- Darryl Sinkfield.
At least eight Republicans are vying for the seat. Qualified candidates are:
- Sen. Greg Albritton, R-Atmore;
- former Sen. Dick Brewbaker, R-Pike Road;
- Caroleene Dobson, an attorney;
- Karla M. DuPriest, a business owner and 2022 U.S. Senate candidate;
- Wallace Gilberry, a former University of Alabama and NFL football player;
- Hampton Harris, a realtor;
- Stacey T. Shepperson;
- Belinda Thomas, a member of the Newton City Council in Dale County.
The seat is expected to lean Democratic, though the general election could be competitive.
The district extends from Washington and northern Mobile counties on the border with Mississippi though the southern Black Belt, extending up to Montgomery County and to Russell and Barbour counties on the Georgia line.
A federal court approved a new congressional map for the state in October after almost two years of litigation between the state and Alabama residents who said a 2021 congressional map effectively silenced their voices in the political process.
The court directed a special master to draw two congressional districts – Districts 2 and 7 – that would give Black voters the opportunity to elect their preferred leaders. The 7th Congressional District, taking in portions of Birmingham and the western Black Belt, has a Black Voting Age Population (BVAP) of about 52%; the 2nd district’s BVAP is just under 49%.”