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The Alabama Minority GOP announced Wednesday that it is supporting Caroleene Dobson in the race for Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District.
Because the new district has a minority population of nearly 50 percent, and because of the heavy correlation in Alabama between race and party, Democrat nominee Shomari Figures is projected by many to come out on top.
But the Minority GOP said Wednesday that their endorsement shows that not all minority voters are giving Figures their support.
“We felt it was crucial to make this endorsement now because what we’re seeing on the ground is that Caroleene Dobson has strong support from the silent minority community—the people who don’t always feel comfortable openly discussing politics or who they’re backing,” said George Williams, leader of the Minority GOP’s South Alabama chapter. “The Democrats think they have this race locked up because they’ve put forward a black candidate with political ties, but we’re here to set the record straight. Caroleene has real support in the black community because she’s focused on the issues that matter most: improving the economy, protecting parental rights, and tackling the crime epidemic. These are the priorities that resonate with voters, not political connections.”
The endorsement comes as Figures’ campaign has gained steam thanks largely to the changeup at the top of the ballot from Joe Biden. To Kamala Harris.
Not only has the switch reenergized the party overall, Figures said in a press conference last month that Harris’ Black heritage and civil rights connections have helped boost engagement from Black voters.
Figures has tied the makeup of the district to the fight of the Civil Rights Movement.
“This (opportunity) is something that came about because of the efforts that happened here over 60 years ago, right here in Montgomery,” Figures said. “As I mentioned at the Democratic National Convention, Montgomery is the birthplace of the Civil Rights movement and I have said it before, and I will say it again: I think that Montgomery is the single most important American city in the 20th century because of the movement that was birthed out of here.”
Despite the argument being routinely rejected by the courts, the Minority GOP announcement frames the court’s drawing of the map as “based on political party rather than communities of interest—a move that undermines the authority of the state legislature, as outlined in the Constitution.”
The general election is now just six weeks away.
