Congressman Shomari Figures faces a steep reelection challenge after the U.S. Supreme Court redrew Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District in June 2026, transforming a majority-Black seat into a white-majority district that favors Republicans in November’s midterm elections.
Figures, a Democrat who made history as the first Black representative to represent Tuskegee in Congress in modern times, won election in 2024 under a district map created after a federal court ordered Alabama to redraw boundaries to include a second majority-Black district. But in April 2026, the Supreme Court struck a blow to the Voting Rights Act by making it significantly more difficult to challenge maps based on racial discrimination, according to the BBC.
That ruling paved the way for Alabama’s Republican-led legislature to redraw the district. On June 2, 2026, the Supreme Court allowed the state to use the new map, which reduces Black voting power in the district to roughly 17%, down from the previous configuration.
The new boundaries have alarmed residents and officials in Tuskegee and surrounding areas who credit Figures with bringing federal resources to their communities. Since taking office, Figures helped secure $1 million from the federal government to build a civic center in Tuskegee and $500,000 for a new MRI machine at Medical Center Barbour in Eufaula, according to the BBC. Tuskegee Mayor Chris Lee said he worries about losing those federal funding streams if Figures loses his seat.
Figures, a former Justice Department official from Mobile, argues the redistricting is racially motivated. “I think it’s purely racially motivated,” he told the BBC. “There’s literal evidence in the record of state legislators referring to Montgomery during the redistricting process as ‘monkey town.'” Montgomery, the state capital, is over 60% African American and will become part of the newly redrawn district.
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall defended the map as race-neutral, pointing out that Democrats have redrawn maps in left-leaning states like California to boost their chances. “I don’t believe that there’s been a direct targeted history… in a way that suppresses minority voter participation,” Marshall said.
In November, Figures will face a Republican opponent determined by the August 11 primary. State Representative Rhett Marques appears to be the frontrunner, backed by endorsements from House Speaker Mike Johnson and President Trump. Marques has positioned himself as a conservative fighter, calling himself ready to “put more money in your pocket, deport every illegal immigrant out of this country, and end the woke agenda once and for all,” according to his April social media post.
Despite the newly unfavorable map, recent polls suggest Figures has a chance. An internal poll and political forecasters cited by the Alabama Political Reporter in mid-July indicated he might be able to win in November. The race has drawn national attention, with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee backing Figures despite the district being rated “likely Republican” by Cook Political Report.
Sources
- BBC News — detailed reporting on Figures’ reelection challenge, the Supreme Court ruling, and community impact in Tuskegee and Eufaula
- SCOTUSblog — Supreme Court’s June 2, 2026 decision allowing Alabama to use the new congressional map
- CNN — confirmation of the Supreme Court’s June 2 ruling allowing Alabama to use the GOP-friendly map
- AP News — Supreme Court’s April 2026 decision weakening the Voting Rights Act
- Alabama Political Reporter — July 2026 poll data and analysis of Figures’ reelection prospects
- Alabama Daily News — Democratic support for Figures and reporting on the June redistricting
