Alabama voters in four congressional districts are headed back to the polls Aug. 11, and this time the maps they’re voting under are the ones the Alabama Legislature actually drew.
Republicans and Democrats in Congressional Districts 1, 2, 6 and 7 will pick nominees in a special primary made necessary by a redistricting fight that’s been working through the courts for three years. Every vote cast in those four districts back on May 19 was voided once the new election was called.
Why This Election Is Happening
Without getting to far into the weeds, the story revolves around several court cases that had district lines bouncing back and forth until the U.S. Supreme Court settled the debate this spring with the Louisiana v. Callais ruling. Gov. Kay Ivey called a special session, the legislature set a new election calendar, and the state is now using the map it original passed rather than the one imposed by a three-judge federal panel.
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Candidates by District
District 1
Republicans: Jerry Carl, John Mills, Austin Sidwell
Democrat: Clyde Jones
District 2
Republicans: Rhett Marques, Joshua McKee, Hampton Harris, Christian Horn, David Matthews, James Richardson
Democrat: Shomari Figures (incumbent)
District 6
Republicans: Gary Palmer (incumbent), Case Dixon
Democrat: Jacob Bouma-Sims, Ashtyn Kennedy, Maurice Mercer, Keith Pilkington
District 7
Republicans: Ammie Akin, David Perry
Democrat: Terri Sewell (incumbent)
The Open Seat
District 1, covering Mobile, Baldwin, Escambia and most of Covington counties, is open because U.S. Rep. Barry Moore is running for Senate. Former Rep. Jerry Carl, who held the seat from 2020 to 2024, enters as the clear frontrunner, having outraised his rivals by a wide margin and led the since-voided May primary. Navy veteran John Mills and attorney Austin Sidwell round out the Republican field. Clyde Jones is running unopposed for the Democratic nomination.
Two Competitive Races, Two Safer Ones
District 2 is the marquee race. State Rep. Rhett Marques who was previously endorsed by TRUK PAC as a state representative, has emerged as the Republican frontrunner, polling well ahead of a six-candidate field and picking up endorsements from the Alabama Farmers Federation and Alabama Forestry Association. Rep. Shomari Figures is seeking re-election as the Democratic nominee in a now republican leaning district. Both sides expect a close general election in November.
District 6 pairs six-term Rep. Gary Palmer against first-time candidate Case Dixon for the Republican nomination; Palmer starts as the strong favorite after taking 81% of the vote in the voided May primary. Four Democrats, Jacob Bouma-Sims, Ashtyn Kennedy, Maurice Mercer and Keith Pilkington, are competing for the right to face the winner. District 7 saw the least change under the new map. Rep. Terri Sewell is unopposed for the Democratic nomination and is widely considered the safest incumbent on the ballot, facing token Republican opposition from Ammie Akin and David Perry in November.
What Comes Next
There’s no runoff in this special primary. Whoever earns the most votes Aug. 11 wins the nomination and advances to the Nov. 3 general election. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and voters can confirm their district and polling place through the Alabama Secretary of State’s office.
These four districts carry a lot of freight, and whoever represents them will help shape the next highway bill, FMCSA’s budget and how seriously Washington takes the trucking industry’s priorities. Alabama Trucking encourages members in CD1, CD2, CD6 and CD7 to learn their candidates before Aug. 11.
