Marques Wins GOP Primary for Alabama's 2nd District

State Representative Rhett Marques won the Republican primary for Alabama's 2nd Congressional District on August 11, setting up a high-stakes general election contest against Democratic incumbent Shomari Figures. The race is a key battleground in the fight for control of the U.S. House, as Republicans seek to flip a seat they redrew to their advantage following a pivotal Supreme Court decision.

Marques, who has served in the state legislature since 2018, secured the GOP nomination with approximately 50 percent of the vote. He was endorsed by President Donald Trump and U.S. Senator Katie Britt. In a post on X, Marques framed the November election as a critical choice, stating, "The stakes in November could not be higher." He now faces Figures, who was unopposed in the Democratic primary.

The contest is the direct result of a dramatic redistricting reversal. Figures made history in 2024 when he won the seat after a federal court ruled the state's previous map intentionally diluted the voting power of Black residents. His election gave Alabama two Black congressional representatives for the first time. However, in April 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a similar...