In a notable political shift Shomari Figures - a Mobile-born Democrat secured victory for Alabamaʼs 2nd District House seat (which happened after court-mandated redistricting changed the areas voting demographics)
The re-drawn district boundaries - ordered by federal court to protect Black residents voting rights forced current Republican Rep Barry Moore to seek re-election in the nearby 1st District instead. The new map brought in neighbourhoods that backed Biden in previous elections; making this seat a key-target for Democrats
Figures brings government know-how to his new role having worked in the Obama White House about a decade ago. His win marks a significant change in the states political make-up‚ as the revised district lines reshape local representation