FIGURES: MONTGOMERY COUNTY DECIDES THIS SEAT
Shomari Figures told the Alabama Democratic Conference in Montgomery on Saturday that his re-election runs through one county. "Montgomery County is at the heart of whether we win this or lose this," Figures said. "We really have to turn it out in Montgomery County. We have to show up."
His plan, as he laid it out, is not to win the Wiregrass but to stay close enough there while driving up Democratic turnout in Montgomery and the Black Belt counties around it. He told the group that about 31 percent of the district's registered voters live in Montgomery County, and that with strong turnout Montgomery could be as much as 40 percent of the vote on Election Day.
"This is not the district we wanted to run in," Figures said. AL.com reports that the district, as now drawn, would have favored Donald Trump by 14 points in 2024 and no longer includes his hometown of Mobile.
THE REPUBLICAN SIDE OF THE SAME MATH
Figures named the counties he cannot win. He pointed to Houston County, where he said Trump received about 73 percent of the vote in 2024, and told the conference his strategy "does not depend on winning those counties."
Republicans heard the same arithmetic from the stage in Mobile on Friday. President Trump urged conservatives to turn out for Rhett Marques: "We've got to get him in, that's a good one." U.S. Rep. Barry Moore told the crowd: "Out of 435 House seats there are about 18 that are in play in America. We need to hold six. Rhett's seat is one of those key votes."
THE MONEY BEHIND THE TURNOUT FIGHT
AL.com reports that Figures and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee began a six-figure television buy last month across the Montgomery, Dothan and Columbus, Georgia, markets.
Federal filings over the 30 days through October 5 show $787,238 in independent spending for Rhett Marques or against Shomari Figures, led by No Going Back PAC at $566,428 and Alabama Christian Conservatives at $211,035. Independent spending for Figures over the same period was $15,235, all from Progressive Turnout Project.
THE DATES
October 19 is the last day to register to vote in the November 3 election. October 27 is the deadline for a mailed absentee ballot application to reach the county absentee election manager, and October 29 is the last day to apply in person.
WHAT THE RECORD COVERS
AL.com, "Shomari Figures' fate depends on voters in this one Alabama county," published October 4, 2026, read October 5. Figures's remarks to the Alabama Democratic Conference, the district's 2024 Trump margin, and the DCCC television buy are as AL.com reported them; the 31 and 40 percent figures and the Houston County figure are Figures's own statements.
President Trump's and Rep. Barry Moore's remarks at the October 2 Mobile rally, as reported by AL.com.
Federal Election Commission independent-spending filings for the Alabama 2nd District race, 30 days through October 5, 2026.
Alabama Secretary of State, 2026 general election calendar.
TWENTY-NINE DAYS
Figures has told his own party where this race will be decided. Republicans in Montgomery County can answer him there. Twenty-nine days until November 3.
Wall of Shame — Today: Austal USA
Today on the Wall of Shame: the Austal USA PAC (Mobile) has put $2,000 into Rep. Shomari Figures' campaign account. Figures then voted to halt Operation Epic Fury — while Austal-built Navy ships were deployed to the Persian Gulf. The Wall of Shame exists for one reason — so that total stops growing. https://take2back.com/wall-of-shame.html
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