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

Voters in Alabama’s 2nd congressional district headed to the polls today to select a Republican nominee for the seat. Following a favorable shift in district lines approved by the U.S. Supreme Court, the GOP is looking to reclaim the southeast Alabama district in the upcoming November general election.

The Candidates

A field of six candidates is competing in the special primary. Among them is state Rep. Rhett Marques of Enterprise, who enters the race with key endorsements from President Trump and U.S. Sen. Katie Britt.

Marques, who held an election night reception at the Enterprise Country Club, spoke with voters today about his platform. "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," Marques said.

The remaining candidates on the ballot include Hampton Harris, Christian Horn, Joshua McKee, David Matthews, and James Richardson. Harris encouraged supporters to head to the polls throughout the day, noting on social media that every voice matters.

Race Context and Voter Turnout

The winner of this contest will advance to face current U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures, D-Mobile, who claimed the seat two years ago. This special primary follows a decision by the GOP-led Legislature to nullify the results of the May 19 primary after the Supreme Court allowed for updated district maps.

There will be no runoff for this seat; the candidate with the highest vote total today secures the nomination. Officials anticipate low turnout, continuing a trend seen earlier this year when only 23% of registered voters participated in the May primary and only 11% turned out for the June runoff.

A significant subplot of today's race is the potential for strategic voting. Because the primary is open, there has been speculation about whether Democratic voters might participate to influence the outcome. Last month, former Democratic vice chair Tabitha Isner encouraged party members to participate in the GOP primary, a move that has renewed calls from the state Republican Party for closed primaries. Legislation to mandate closed primaries failed to pass in the Legislature this year.