In a significant political development, Shomari Figures, a former US Justice Department official, is projected to secure victory in the Democratic primary runoff for Alabama's 2nd Congressional District, according to CNN. This race is particularly notable as the new congressional map could result in Alabama having two Black House members serving together for the first time ever.

Figures emerged as the frontrunner after defeating state House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels in the runoff. The need for a runoff arose as neither candidate managed to secure more than 50% of the vote in the initial crowded 11-candidate round held last month. On the Republican side, real estate lawyer Caroleene Dobson clinched the nomination over former state Sen. Dick Brewbaker in another closely watched runoff.

Looking ahead to November, Figures is expected to be the favorite against Dobson in a district that spans the southern part of Alabama and leaned towards supporting President Joe Biden by 12 points in the 2020 election. His victory would likely be historically significant, with Rep. Terri Sewell, a fellow Black Democrat, heavily favored to win an eighth term in the neighboring deep-blue seat. Alabama has never had two Black members serving in its congressional delegation simultaneously.

The creation of this new congressional seat follows a ruling by a three-judge panel last fall. The judges approved a revised map that significantly increased the district's Black population, presenting an opportunity for Democrats to potentially gain ground in the US House, with this year's elections holding much significance.

The legal battle surrounding Alabama's new map reached the US Supreme Court, which surprisingly affirmed the panel's opinion. The ruling directed the state to include a second Black-majority district or something closely resembling it. Former US Attorney General Eric Holder, who chairs a national Democratic redistricting group, hailed Tuesday's election as progress and increased voter turnout resulting from the state's new fair map.

Before the court intervention, Alabama had one Black-majority district out of its seven seats, despite being 27% Black. Figures, before entering the race, served as deputy chief of staff to US Attorney General Merrick Garland and held positions in the Obama administration as well as serving as counsel in Congress.

Figures hails from a prominent Alabama political family. His father, Michael Figures, a lawyer and state senator, played a significant role in a successful lawsuit against the United Klans of America and other defendants following the lynching of a Black teenager in 1981. This lawsuit effectively bankrupted the organization. Shomari Figures' mother, Vivian Davis Figures, succeeded her late husband in the state Senate, where she continues to serve.

The 2nd District race garnered substantial attention and more than $8 million in ad spending, encompassing both the initial primary contest and the subsequent runoff on both sides. Notably, a pro-Figures super PAC called Protect Progress, funded by cryptocurrency interests, emerged as a major player in the Democratic campaign. The super PAC has invested $2.7 million in advertising, making it the most significant spender in the race. Dobson's campaign, on the other hand, allocated approximately $1.7 million towards ads, positioning herself as a "Trump conservative" and targeting Brewbaker, her primary opponent, as "just another tax-raising, Trump-hating politician."

With Figures projected to win the Democratic primary runoff, Alabama's 2nd Congressional District may witness a historic moment in November, potentially electing two Black members of Congress who truly reflect the political desires of Black Alabamians.