U.S. House · Alabama's 2nd Congressional District

South-central and southeast Alabama, including Montgomery and stretching to the Georgia and Florida state lines.

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

✓ Fact-checked 2026-09-25: 34 claims re-checked against their sources · 1 corrected · 2 removed

A second, independent research pass re-opened every cited source for this race and corrected or removed anything the source didn’t support.

  • Corrected Rhett Marques' background: Ballotpedia's committee-assignment history shows he became Vice Chair of the Commerce and Small Business Committee starting the 2023-2024 term, not 2021 (in 2021-2022 he was a member with no Vice Chair title).
  • Removed Shomari Figures' tariffs position: the cited source discusses cryptocurrency/digital-asset policy, not tariffs, and its own summary admitted no direct tariff position was stated.
  • Removed Rhett Marques' tariffs position: the cited source discusses onshoring supply chains and 'Made in America' manufacturing but does not state a tariff position; the entry itself admitted this.

On the ballot · 2 candidates

Where they stand — side by side

Only positions documented in a cited source are shown. Where an officeholder’s recorded votes speak to an issue, the votes set the position (marked “votes”). A dash means we found no clear public position — not that the candidate has none.

ISSUEShomari Figures
D
Rhett Marques
R
Protect legal access to abortionSupports[3]—
Stricter gun lawsMixed[3]Opposes[5]
Expand immigration enforcement and deportationsMixed[6][7][8][9]votesSupports[5]
Raise taxes on high earners or corporationsSupports[7][8][9]votesOpposes[5]
Expand public health coverageSupports[7][8][9][10]votes—
Faster transition away from fossil fuelsSupports[7][8][9]votes—
Raise the minimum wageSupports[3]—
Broad tariffs on imported goodsOpposes[11]votes—
Universal, publicly funded child careSupports[3]—

The candidates, in full

Shomari Figures

DINCUMBENTU.S. Representative for Alabama's 2nd Congressional District (since 2025)

Shomari Figures is the incumbent Democratic U.S. Representative for Alabama's 2nd Congressional District, elected in 2024. Before Congress he worked in the White House and Department of Justice under President Obama, for U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown, and returned to the Justice Department under President Biden as deputy chief of staff and counselor to Attorney General Merrick Garland. He sits on the House Agriculture and Transportation and Infrastructure committees.[2]

Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.

Key votes in Congress

  • YesWar Powers Resolution directing removal of forces from Iran hostilities · H. Con. Res. 86 · Passed 215–208 · 2026-06-03 roll call ↗The resolution directs the President to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities with Iran that Congress has not authorized, invoking the War Powers Resolution. It passed the House with support from Democrats and a number of Republicans.
  • YesResolution disapproving tariffs on Canada · H.J. Res. 72 · Passed 219–211 · 2026-02-11 roll call ↗The resolution terminates the national emergency the President declared in February 2025 to justify a 25 percent tariff on imports from Canada, ending that tariff if it becomes law. It passed with a bipartisan majority, including several Republicans who broke with the administration on trade policy.
  • NoConsolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 — full-year government funding · H.R. 7148 · Passed 217–214 · 2026-02-03 roll call ↗The bill provides full-year discretionary appropriations for federal agencies for the remainder of fiscal year 2026, replacing the stopgap funding enacted after the fall 2025 shutdown. It sets spending levels across defense and non-defense programs through September 2026.
  • YesBreaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extension · H.R. 1834 · Passed 230–196 · 2026-01-08 roll call ↗The bill extends for additional years the enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits that were expanded in 2021 and had lapsed at the end of 2025, lowering health-insurance premiums for people who buy coverage on ACA marketplaces. It passed with support from nearly all Democrats and a small group of Republicans.
  • YesWar Powers Resolution on Venezuela · H. Con. Res. 64 · Failed 211–213 · 2025-12-17 roll call ↗The resolution would have directed the President to remove U.S. armed forces from hostilities in or against Venezuela that Congress had not authorized. It failed after U.S. military strikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels off Venezuela had raised questions in Congress about the administration's legal authority for military action in the region.
  • YesNational Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 — final passage · S. 1071 · Passed 312–112 · 2025-12-10 roll call ↗The fiscal year 2026 NDAA authorizes roughly $900 billion in defense spending, including a pay raise for service members and funding for shipbuilding, munitions, and missile-defense programs. It also sets policy on military personnel, procurement, and other Defense Department programs for the year.
  • YesEpstein Files Transparency Act · H.R. 4405 · Passed 427–1 · 2025-11-18 roll call ↗The bill directs the Department of Justice to publicly release its investigative files related to Jeffrey Epstein within 30 days, while allowing redactions to protect victim identities, ongoing investigations, and law enforcement techniques. It passed with near-unanimous support.
  • NoContinuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2026 — shutdown-ending vote · H.R. 5371 · Passed 222–209 · 2025-11-12 roll call ↗The bill reopened the federal government after a 43-day shutdown by funding most agencies through January 30, 2026, and providing full-year funding for a smaller group of agencies through September 2026. It also reversed shutdown-related federal layoffs and funded SNAP benefits retroactively.
  • YesCLARITY Act — digital asset market structure · H.R. 3633 · Passed 294–134 · 2025-07-17 roll call ↗The CLARITY Act creates a regulatory framework dividing oversight of digital assets between the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. It sets registration and disclosure requirements for cryptocurrency exchanges and other digital-asset intermediaries.
  • YesGENIUS Act — stablecoin regulation · S. 1582 · Passed 308–122 · 2025-07-17 roll call ↗The GENIUS Act creates a federal regulatory framework for payment stablecoins, requiring issuers to hold reserves backing their tokens on a one-to-one basis and to comply with new disclosure and licensing rules. It was the first major piece of cryptocurrency legislation enacted into federal law.
  • NoOne Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passage · H.R. 1 · Passed 218–214 · 2025-07-03 roll call ↗H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, extends and expands the 2017 tax cuts, adds new deductions for tips, overtime pay, and seniors, and raises the cap on state and local tax deductions. It increases border security and defense spending while cutting projected Medicaid and SNAP spending and adding new work requirements; President Trump signed it into law on July 4, 2025.
  • NoRescissions Act of 2025 · H.R. 4 · Passed 214–212 · 2025-06-12 roll call ↗The Rescissions Act canceled about $9 billion in previously approved federal spending, mostly for foreign aid programs and for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. It was the first rescissions package Congress had approved in decades.
  • NoOne Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passage · H.R. 1 · Passed 215–214 · 2025-05-22 roll call ↗H.R. 1 extends and modifies the 2017 individual and business tax cuts, creates new deductions for tips and overtime pay, and increases spending on border security and defense. It also reduces projected spending on Medicaid and food-assistance programs and adds new work requirements for some recipients.
  • NoSAVE Act — proof-of-citizenship voter registration · H.R. 22 · Passed 220–208 · 2025-04-10 roll call ↗The SAVE Act would require individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship in person when registering to vote in federal elections. It also directs states to establish procedures to remove noncitizens identified on voter rolls.
  • NoFull-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 · H.R. 1968 · Passed 217–213 · 2025-03-11 roll call ↗The bill funded the federal government through the remainder of fiscal year 2025, largely at prior-year spending levels, averting a shutdown ahead of a March 14 deadline. It also extended several expiring health and other program authorizations.
  • YesLaken Riley Act — final passage · S. 5 · Passed 263–156 · 2025-01-22 roll call ↗The Laken Riley Act requires the Department of Homeland Security to detain undocumented immigrants who are arrested, charged, or convicted for theft, burglary, or certain violent crimes. It also allows state attorneys general to sue the federal government over certain immigration enforcement decisions.

On the record — official actions

  • actionServes on the House Committee on Agriculture (Commodity Markets, Digital Assets and Rural Development; Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture subcommittees) and the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management; Highways and Transit; Water Resources and Environment subcommittees) in the 119th Congress (2025-2026).[2]

Positions on the issues

  • SupportsExpand public health coverageFrom recorded votes

    Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which reduced federal Medicaid spending and added Medicaid work requirements. Voted yes on Breaking the Gridlock Act (H.R. 1834, 2026-01-08).[7][8][9][10]

    What they say: Campaign website says he will build on the Affordable Care Act, expand healthcare networks and community health centers, and address the state's maternal health crisis.[3]

  • SupportsProtect legal access to abortion

    Campaign website says he will work to protect reproductive rights and ensure patients can make their own healthcare decisions.[3]

  • MixedStricter gun laws

    Campaign website says he supports a "holistic approach" to gun violence while also pledging to protect the constitutional rights of residents.[3]

  • SupportsUniversal, publicly funded child care

    Campaign website says he will fight for paid parental leave and expand access to affordable, high-quality childcare.[3]

  • SupportsRaise the minimum wage

    Campaign website says he will work to raise wages for families struggling with rising costs.[3]

  • MixedExpand immigration enforcement and deportationsFrom recorded votes

    Voted yes on Laken Riley Act (S. 5, 2025-01-22). Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which funded expanded immigration enforcement, detention and border operations.[6][7][8][9]

  • SupportsFaster transition away from fossil fuelsFrom recorded votes

    Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which phased out Inflation Reduction Act clean-energy tax credits.[7][8][9]

  • SupportsRaise taxes on high earners or corporationsFrom recorded votes

    Voted no on One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 2025-05-22; 2025-07-03), which made the 2017 individual tax rates, including the 37% top rate, permanent.[7][8][9]

  • OpposesBroad tariffs on imported goodsFrom recorded votes

    Voted yes on Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada (H.J. Res. 72, 2026-02-11).[11]

In their words — priorities

  • Access to healthcare, citing Alabama's non-expansion of Medicaid and high rates of maternal mortality, particularly for Black mothers and infants.[3]
  • Investing in education, citing low reading and math proficiency rates in Alabama and low teacher pay.[3]
  • Jobs and economic opportunity, including raising wages, supporting small businesses, expanding childcare access, and workforce development.[3]
  • Combating gun violence, citing Alabama's high rate of gun deaths, while saying any approach should protect residents' constitutional rights.[3]

Background

  • Graduated from John L. LeFlore High School in Mobile; earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and history (2006) and a J.D. (2010), both from the University of Alabama.[2]
  • Clerked for a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri; worked on President Obama's re-election campaign and in the Obama White House and Department of Justice.[2]
  • Worked in the office of U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), then returned to the Department of Justice under President Biden as deputy chief of staff and counselor to Attorney General Merrick Garland.[2]

Campaign money

Raised $1.4M · spent $716K · $663K cash on hand (through 2026-07-22) FEC filing ↗

Rhett Marques

RMember, Alabama House of Representatives, District 91 (since 2018)

Won the August 11, 2026 Republican primary with 50.3% of the vote over five other candidates.

Rhett Marques is a sitting Alabama state representative (District 91) and small-business owner running as the Republican nominee for Alabama's 2nd Congressional District. He is Vice Chair of the state House Commerce and Small Business Committee.[4]

Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.

On the record — official actions

  • actionHas served in the Alabama House of Representatives, District 91, since 2018; currently Vice Chair of the Commerce and Small Business Committee and a member of the Health and Transportation, Utilities and Infrastructure committees (2025-2026 term).[4]

Positions on the issues

  • SupportsExpand immigration enforcement and deportations

    Campaign website says he will fight to keep criminal immigrants out of communities and continue "Detain and Deport" policies rather than "Catch and Release."[5]

  • OpposesStricter gun laws

    Campaign website frames the right to bear arms as "God-given" and says he opposes efforts by the political left to restrict it.[5]

  • OpposesRaise taxes on high earners or corporations

    Campaign website says he will fight to eliminate wasteful government spending, lower taxes, and put more money back in workers' pockets.[5]

In their words — priorities

  • Says making life more affordable for Alabama families will be his top priority in Congress, including eliminating wasteful federal spending and lowering taxes.[5]
  • Says he will work to cut regulations on businesses and support onshoring supply chains and domestic manufacturing.[5]
  • Says he will fight to keep border and immigration enforcement policies in place, citing support for "Detain and Deport" over "Catch and Release."[5]

Background

  • Born and raised in Spanish Fort, Alabama; graduated from Fairhope High School in 1990 and earned a marketing degree from the University of Alabama in 1994.[4]
  • Served as owner and manager of Goodson Tire & Auto before his election to the Alabama House of Representatives in 2018.[4]
  • Has served on the Alabama House Commerce and Small Business Committee (Vice Chair since 2023), Health Committee, and other committees since 2018.[4]

Campaign money

Raised $1.3M · spent $1.1M · $188K cash on hand (through 2026-07-22) FEC filing ↗

Sources · 11

Researched 2026-09-25. Green citations are official government records.

  1. 1.United States House of Representatives elections in Alabama, 2026 · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
  2. 2.Shomari Figures · Ballotpedia Reference
  3. 3.Shomari Figures campaign website (via Ballotpedia) · Ballotpedia Candidate's own words
  4. 4.Rhett Marques · Ballotpedia Reference
  5. 5.Rhett Marques campaign website (via Ballotpedia) · Ballotpedia Candidate's own words
  6. 6.Roll call: Laken Riley Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-01-22 Official record
  7. 7.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — House passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-05-22 Official record
  8. 8.H.R. 1 (119th Congress) — One Big Beautiful Bill Act: text and summary · Congress.gov Official record
  9. 9.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — final passage · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2025-07-03 Official record
  10. 10.Roll call: Breaking the Gridlock Act — ACA subsidy extension · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-01-08 Official record
  11. 11.Roll call: Resolution disapproving tariffs on Canada · Office of the Clerk, U.S. House · 2026-02-11 Official record