Low voter turnout expected as Alabama Republicans decide who will fight to unseat Shomari Figures

Voters in Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District are heading to the polls today to select a Republican nominee for the seat. This special primary follows a shift in district boundaries approved by the U.S. Supreme Court, providing the GOP with an opportunity to challenge for a district that has seen significant political movement in recent years.

The Candidates

A field of six candidates is vying for the nomination in this special primary. Among the contenders is state Rep. Rhett Marques of Enterprise. Marques heads into today’s vote with the backing of President Trump and U.S. Sen. Katie Britt. He is set to host an election night reception at the Enterprise Country Club.

Following his morning vote, Marques remarked, “Today, Alabamians have the choice to send President Trump and Senator Britt the proven conservative they want fighting alongside them to pass the America First agenda and deliver results for hardworking Alabama families.”

The remaining candidates in the race include Hampton Harris, Christian Horn, Joshua McKee, David Matthews, and James Richardson. Harris encouraged voters to participate, stating on social media, “Abbi and I cast our votes this morning. If you have not voted yet, we humbly ask that you make time to go vote today. Your voice matters.”

The Stakes

The winner of today's contest will move on to the November general election to face incumbent U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures, D-Mobile. Figures secured the seat two years ago during a cycle where district lines favored Democrats.

This unusual late-summer race stems from the GOP-led Legislature’s decision to nullify the results of the May 19 primary and order a new special primary following the Supreme Court's map ruling. There will be no runoff; the candidate with the highest vote total today wins the nomination, regardless of whether they reach a majority.

Turnout Concerns and Strategic Voting

Expectations for voter turnout remain low, following a trend that saw only 23% of registered voters participate in the May primary and just 11% turnout for the June runoff.

Observers are closely watching whether Democrats might participate in the open GOP primary to influence the outcome. This possibility comes after former Democratic vice chair Tabitha Isner publicly encouraged such a move last month. The situation has reignited internal debate over moving to a closed primary system, a proposal that failed to pass in the state Legislature earlier this year.