MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) – Shomari Figures claimed victory Tuesday night, in the race for Alabama’s newly drawn second congressional district.

Figures wins Alabama’s redrawn 2nd Congressional District

Figures, who went up against Republican Caroleene Dobson, earned 54% of the vote, with the majority coming out of Mobile.

“It’s about us” Shomari Figures claims victory in Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District

Figures claimed the democratic ticket in April after a crowded race that started with twelve other candidates.

Anitra Henderson, with the Figures campaign, says he’s spending Wednesday heading up through the counties to thank voters.

Henderson says he’s already making calls to congressional leaders.

After beating out his opponent he says he’s ready to represent his district in Washington.

Shomari Figures speaks at final night of DNC

“First thing first, and that’s building a bipartisan, multi-faceted team here in the state of Alabama to help, or here in District Two to help with the transition process that’s pulling together voices and resources from the business community, the economic community, the education community, the labor community, the church community, law enforcement community, all of those relevant stakeholders,” Figures said.

Figures brings with him years of experience in the federal government.

It includes working under both Obama and Biden presidencies and Attorney General Merrick Garland.

He’s also the son of current State Senator Vivian Davis-Figures and the late State Senator Michael Figures.

A Mobile native, he says regardless of anyone’s political stance, he’s fit for the job.

Former US attorney general says House candidate Shomari Figures in Alabama will fight for equality

“At the end of the day, we got in this race because we love this place that we call home, and home is not blue. Home is not red. Home is a collective of people and places and communities that are strong, that have led this nation through its toughest times and darker, darkest days,” Figures said. “And we can, we can do it. We know that we have a bright future ahead of us. And look, we got to go up there, we work on both sides of the aisle and we get the job done.

Figures has centered his campaign around the healthcare crisis in Alabama.

‘On life support’: Hospital officials warn dozens of rural Alabama hospitals are at risk of closing their doors

He also touched on the recent hospital closings in his district.

During several debates over the last few months, he expressed fear for those who needed healthcare access, if they had nowhere to go.

“You know, once we’re sworn in, I think we have to look to immediately resolving the health care crisis that we have across this district,” Figures said. “I mean, we have four hospitals that have closed in this district just since we’ve been in this race. We have several other facilities that are on the verge of closing in this district, and we have to make sure that we can stand up for them.

Figures will take office on January 1.

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Tonya Chestnut Tuesday was leading in the polls as the District 5 representative on the State Board of Education.

As of around 11:30 p.m., Chestnut, a retired educator and Democrat who has served on the board since 2021, had 141,374 votes (54.97%) in unofficial returns, according to the Alabama Secretary of State’s website. Republican challenger David Perry had 115,417 votes (44.87%).

There were 414 write-ins, or 0.16%.

The Associated Press had not called the race as of 11:30 p.m.

Chestnut wrote in a text Tuesday evening that the counties in her district had reported 100%, which gave her the victory.

“A special thanks to District 5 for choosing Chestnut Again!” she wrote. “I count it an honor to continue to serve and represent District 5.”

Perry wrote in a text Tuesday evening that he had no immediate comment and would respond when his camp gets the final numbers.

District 5 includes much of the Black Belt and most of Montgomery County.

Chestnut said saw school safety as a priority. She also highlighted her work seeking funding to help struggling readers beyond third grade. The Alabama State Department of Education has included funding for that program in its fiscal year 2025 Education Trust Fund request.

Chestnut also said that she has been looking into weighted student funding formulas in other states, which has been a topic of discussion for legislative leaders.

In March, Allen Long, District 7, and Kelly Mooney, District 3, won Republican primaries in races without Democratic candidates.

The initial CFP rankings dropped Tuesday night, and Alabama football sat in the No. 11 spot.

That meant the Crimson Tide would be included in the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff field if the season ended today.

Alabama (6-2) would play No. 6 seed Texas (7-1) in a first-round game in Austin, Texas based on the initial rankings.

The Crimson Tide was ranked ahead of all other two-loss teams, and even a few one-loss teams such as No. 13 SMU, No. 17 Iowa State, No. 18 Pittsburgh and No. 21 Washington State.

CFP committee chair Warde Manuel was asked on a teleconference call for the committee’s reasoning to put Alabama at No. 11 and the highest spot of any two-loss team.

“We obviously view them as the highest-ranked two-loss team at this time,” Manuel said. “The home win against Georgia was impressive. What they just did against Missouri, a 24th ranked Missouri team. The loss to Vanderbilt on the road at Vanderbilt was something that we also looked at as well as the road loss at Tennessee. Tennessee is ranked No. 7. They’re top 20 in scoring. Their defense is always solid, holding teams to less than 20 points per game. Those things impressed the committee.”

None of it will matter, however, if Alabama loses another game. Alabama will face LSU on Saturday, Nov. 9 (6:30 p.m. CT, ABC) in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The winner will keep its playoff hopes alive. The loser will all but be eliminated from CFP contention.

CFP rankings: Nov. 5

1. Oregon (as Big Ten champion)
2. Ohio State
3. Georgia (as SEC champion)
4. Miami (as ACC champion)
5. Texas
6. Penn State
7. Tennessee
8. Indiana
9. BYU (as Big 12 champion)
10. Notre Dame
11. Alabama
12. Boise State
13. SMU
14. Texas A&M
15. LSU
16. Ole Miss
17. Iowa State
18. Pitt
19. Kansas State
20. Colorado
21. Washington State
22. Louisville
23. Clemson
24. Missouri
25. Army

Nick Kelly is an Alabama beat writer for AL.com and the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X and Instagram.