The race in the newly-drawn second congressional district of Alabama was expected to be tight. It is.
A poll published by Alabama Families PAC showed only three points separating the two nominees. Democrat Shomari Figures held the slightest of leads with 37% to 34% for Republican Caroleene Dobson.
The eyes of the nation may be on Alabama, as this new district and a newly-competitive AL7 could determine control of the U.S. House of Representatives.
The cards have been dealt to Alabama voters to impact, and maybe to decide, whether Republicans can keep control of the House.
Donald Trump’s biggest need is to win back the White House. Perhaps his second biggest need is to maintain Republican control of the U.S. House.
The margin of control in the U.S. House right now is thin – seriously thin. 218-214.
Two congressional districts in Alabama are vital and could decide control of the House. District two was re-drawn by the federal courts to favor the Democrats – slightly favor. AL2 is a swing district, a purple district.
Democrats have targeted AL2 for outside millions and professional organizers. Conservative activists are countering that with a citizens’ voter registration project: Save Our U.S. House.
The 13 counties in AL2 are: Mobile, Washington, southern Clarke, Monroe, Conecuh, Butler, Crenshaw, Pike, Montgomery, Bullock, Macon, Russell, and Barbour.
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Alabama’s congressional district seven is Democrat, represented by Rep. Terry Sewell (D-Birmingham). That district has been impossible for a Republican to win – until now. The federal courts wanted to create a Democrat district in AL2. To do so, they moved thousands of Democrat voters out of AL7 into AL2. AL7 is now less Democrat than it has ever been.
The best chance for a Republican to win AL7 is now, this election cycle, Nov. 5, 2024.
The Republican nominee against Democrat Rep. Sewell is Dr. Robin Litaker of Birmingham. An Alabama “State Teacher of the Year,” Litaker is a member of the Trump Team. An upset win by Litaker would flip a blue district to red and just about guarantee GOP control of the House. Alabama can make a difference.
The counties in AL7 are: Choctaw, Dallas, Greene, Hale, Lowndes, Marengo, Pickens, Perry, Sumter and Wilcox counties, and portions of Clarke, Jefferson, and Tuscaloosa counties.
Any citizen who will turn 18 by November 5, 2024 can go ahead now and register to vote. Alabama’s voter registration system will simply suspend the addition to the voting roll until the person’s birthday.
In the past, many 18 to 25 year-olds have not registered and have not voted. It was not a constituency that was considered significant by political campaigns. That could be different in AL2 because of the expected closeness of the vote. New, first-time voters could be the difference.
Any citizen of Alabama can register to vote online at the Alabama Secretary of State’s site: Alabama Votes. It takes less than five minutes. The old adage, “Every vote counts. Your vote could make the difference” is especially true in Alabama this year.
Jim Zeigler is a voter registration consultant for Save Our U.S. House. He served as Alabama Public Service Commissioner and State Auditor.
