MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — The two candidates for Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District, which was redrawn by a federal court after a lengthy redistricting battle, made their final campaign pushes this week, seeking to drive turnout in the race that could play a role in the battle for control of the U.S. House of Representatives.
The once safe Republican seat was reshaped after a federal court ruled Alabama had illegally diluted the power of Black voters. The non-partisan Cook Political Report ranks the new district, where Black voters make up nearly 49% of the voting-age population, as “likely Democrat.” But both campaigns have said the seat is competitive.
In their closing messages, both candidates emphasized a push for voter turnout.
Standing near a statue of Rosa Parks in downtown Montgomery, Shomari Figures, the Democratic nominee, on Thursday called the race an opportunity to build upon the progress of the civil rights movement. Figures, the son of a civil rights attorney and Alabama legislator, worked as a top aide to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland and as an aide in the Obama White House.
“When you grow up in Mobile and in Alabama you learn very very early in life the role that the federal government has had to play in making the state do right by its people,” Figures said during a stop in Mobile.
Figures has emphasized the need to work on longstanding problems with health care, infrastructure and education, often noting that Alabamians have among the lowest life expectancies in the nation.
“We’re going to win this thing. But the goal is not to win. The goal is to do the work,” he said.
Former President Barack Obama recorded a message encouraging voters to support Figures. “America needs you to lead the charge for change once again," Obama said in the message that also invoked the state's civil rights history.
U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries traveled to Alabama to support Figures as Democrats eye an opportunity to flip the Deep South seat.
Republican Caroleene Dobson has emphasized concerns about inflation and immigration, issues that she said are worries for families across the political spectrum. On Friday, she greeted the breakfast crowd at a popular Montgomery deli.
The race is about turnout, she told supporters. “I think now is an opportunity for the people of this district to really send a message to Washington. We don’t want more of the status quo.” Dobson said afterward.
Dobson, a real estate attorney, has repeatedly called Figures a “Washington insider.”
“What’s consistent in every conversation that I have throughout the district is that we cannot sustain another four years of high prices and rising crime. And it’s not just that my opponent doesn’t have solutions to these problems, he helped put in place policies that have caused these problems,” Dobson said.
The Alabama Republican Party sent out a series of controversial mailers attempting to attack Figures. One about a Department of Justice clemency initiative had a large mug shot of a Black man arrested on a 2023 drug trafficking charge with text saying that Figures “supports releasing dangerous criminals.”
Figures in a statement called the ads an attempt at “race-baiting.”
“If the Republican party wanted to send out a mailer of a criminal, they should’ve put out a mailer with Donald Trump on it,” Figures added.
Alabama Republican Party Chairman John Wahl defended the mailers, saying that “crime affects people of all backgrounds, and every victim deserves justice, regardless of race.”
The mailers were sent by the state party and not the Dobson campaign.
During the Friday campaign stop, Charlie Trotman, a Montgomery real estate developer, told Dobson that she had his vote.
“She is to me somebody I would be very proud to represent us. I think she is smart,” Trotman said.
In Mobile, Shalela Dowdy, one of the Black voters who challenged the state’s prior congressional map, called the election the “fight of our lives” but said that she is cautiously optimistic.
Dowdy, a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, said she joined the litigation because the needs of Black communities were being ignored. She said the district is now drawn so the winner will have to be responsive to all communities, both Black and white.
“It will provide them a seat at the table, to have a voice and not be forgotten about,” Dowdy said.
Associated Press writer Safiyah Riddle contributed to this report.
Shomari Figures, left, the Democratic nominee for Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District, campaigns with U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries in Montgomery, Ala., Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Safiyah Riddle)
This combination image shows the candidates for Alabama's new 2nd Congressional District, Republican Caroleene Dobson, Aug 31, 2024, and Democrat Shomari Figures, Aug. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Butch Dill, left, J. Scott Applewhite)
Coach Mike Macdonald has faith the Seattle Seahawks are going to get their ground game going.
The Seahawks have lost four of five after a 3-0 start and hope to shift the season back in their favor on Sunday at home against their NFC West rival, the Los Angeles Rams. A key to putting the season back on track is clearly the running game.
Seattle has the league’s No. 1 passing offense, led by veteran quarterback Geno Smith. But rushing-wise, the Seahawks are managing an average of just 89.3 yards on the ground per game. Only four teams in the league have lower averages.
The Seahawks fell at home 31-10 last weekend to the Buffalo Bills, which dropped the team into a first-place tie in the NFC West. Seattle rushed for a season-low 32 yards against Buffalo, with Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet rushing 12 times for 16 yards.
Walker is the team's top rusher with 315 yards on 74 carries and six touchdowns.
“We’re going to get it figured out. I mean, we’re going to be a good run team, going to have an efficient offense," Macdonald said. “I do feel like I’m a little bit of a broken record every week, but I do feel optimistic talking to the coaches and watching the tape.”
The Rams (3-4) played at home last Thursday, beating Minnesota 30-20.
The Rams' run defense is ranked 23rd in the NFL, allowing an average of 139.1 yards a game. They’ve allowed six rushing touchdowns. Overall, the Rams are allowing opponents 351.7 total yards a game.
“We’re going to get this thing rolling," Macdonald said. "I think once you complement getting the run game going with all the other mechanisms we have in our offense and our system and all of our skill guys and the way Geno’s throwing the ball, I think that could be a really potent attack.”
As for the Seahawks' defense against the run, the Bills had 164 rushing yards on 34 attempts for an average of 4.8 yards per carry. James Cook had 17 carries for 111 yards and two touchdowns.
Overall, the Seahawks rank 29th in the league against the run, with an average of 148.4 yards allowed. They'll be challenged by the Rams' Kyren Williams, who has eight rushing touchdowns.
The Rams raised eyebrows in late August when they abruptly traded Ernest Jones, their leading tackler and defensive signal-caller, to Tennessee for a mere late-round pick upgrade in 2026 after failed negotiations on a contract extension for the fourth-year pro. Jones made 44 tackles in six games with the struggling Titans before they shipped him to Seattle for Jerome Baker and a fourth-round pick — much more than Los Angeles got for a key member of its Super Bowl championship team.
Jones made a whopping 15 tackles in his Seahawks debut last week, and now he’ll face the team that gave up on him instead of allowing him to play out his rookie contract.
Coach Sean McVay’s replacements at inside linebacker are not at Jones’ level, and the coach essentially acknowledged it this week: “I think all the decisions that we make in the moment, we feel like are in the best interest. I’m not going to pretend to act like every decision is accurate, and you try to be able to learn from it and apply it moving forward.”
While there were hopes Seahawks receiver DK Metcalf could return, he was ruled out on Friday. Metcalf sprained his right knee during a victory at Atlanta on Oct. 20 and didn't play against the Bills. He did not practice this week. Metcalf ranks eighth in the NFL with 568 receiving yards on 35 catches.
Defensive end Dre’Mont Jones, who hurt his shoulder against the Bills, could return. Tackle George Fant, who returned to practice last week after a knee injury in the first week of the season, also could play. But tackle Abraham Lucas, recovering for offseason knee surgery, won't be available.
Los Angeles got an enormous boost last Thursday from the returns of top receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, who combined for 12 catches for 157 yards and a TD in Matthew Stafford’s first four-TD game of the season.
The Rams are unlikely to get a similar boost from injury returns this weekend after their extra time off. Starting offensive linemen Steve Avila and Jonah Jackson are still at least another week away, although backup lineman Joe Noteboom could be available for the first time since Week 1 to help a rushing attack ranked in the league’s bottom third despite another strong season from Williams. Los Angeles also hopes to have safety Kam Curl, who was limited in practice by a knee injury.
AP Sports Writer Greg Beacham in Los Angeles and AP freelance writer Shane Lantz in Seattle contributed to this report.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Demarcus Robinson (15) celebrates after scoring a 25-yard touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Demarcus Robinson celebrates after catching a touchdown pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (10) catches a pass near Minnesota Vikings cornerback Stephon Gilmore (2) during the second half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) carries the ball as Buffalo Bills running back Ray Davis (22) defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) runs the ball against Buffalo Bills defensive end Dawuane Smoot (94) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith (7) reacts to a call during the second half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
