The chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee labeled Alabama Republican congressional hopeful Caroleene Dobson as an “extreme and very wealthy” opponent to Democrat Shomari Figures, and as one who supports a repeal of the Affordable Care Act.
Dobson’s campaign said the comments made Monday by DCCC chair Suzan DelBene are inaccurate.
DelBene, a Washington congresswoman who has chaired the DCCC since December 2022, said during a call with reporters Monday that Dobson wants to see the Affordable Care Act repealed, echoing remarks made by Figures earlier this month that Dobson would vote to rescind a law that is crucial to providing health coverage to Alabamians in the rural and majority Black 2nd district.
“We know how important it is for folks to understand that this district has changed, and the contrast between (Figures’) and his extreme and very wealthy opponent,” DelBene said, after she was asked to provide an assessment of the congressional race that could play a role in tipping the U.S. House in favor of the Democrats in November. “I would also say that Shomari’s opponent wants to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Even Donald Trump doesn’t go that far.”
Shomari Figures, a Democratic candidate for Alabama’s 2nd congressional district, speaks during a forum featuring 10 candidates (eight Democrats, and two Republicans) on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024, at the Sunlight District Auditorium in Prichard, Ala.John Sharp/jsharp@al.com
Figures recently accused Dobson of supporting a full repeal of the ACA. Dobson was cited in an Alabama Daily News article in December of supporting a repeal of the ACA, but her campaign spokesperson has recently said that is not her position, and said that Dobson understands that such an action “would be impossible” because the federal health insurance program is now an “intertwined part of the health care infrastructure” in the U.S.
The Dobson campaign said that DelBene is not being truthful in her comments about the Montgomery attorney’s record.
Drew Dickson, a campaign spokesperson, said DelBene failed to discuss issues such as inflation, high grocery prices, the U.S.-Mexican border, and rising crime — while serving as “the head cheerleader for extremist liberals.”
“DelBene gave a rah-rah pep talk for her home team, but nothing she said accurately reflects the current state of the race or Caroleene’s positions on the issues that matter most to Alabamians throughout the Second District,” Dickson said.
Read more: Alabama 2nd District candidates Dobson, Figures to debate live on AL.com in October
DelBene discussed the state of the Alabama congressional race while also providing her perspective on other races going on nationally with 50 days left before the Nov. 5 general election. As DelBene noted, the Democratic Party only needs “a net gain of four seats” to retake the House majority, and organizations like Cook Political Report are predicting the party to reclaim the House majority in January.
The Alabama 2nd congressional district is one the party is eying. The seat is currently held by Republican U.S. Rep. Barry Moore of Enterprise, who is poised to become the congressman in Alabama’s conservative 1st congressional district. The 2nd district is now considered a competitive district, but also one that has been labeled by Cook and others as “leans Democratic” following a redistricting plan approved by the federal courts last fall.
The U.S. Supreme Court, during the summer of 2023, ruled Alabama’s congressional map violated the Voting Rights Act of 1965. It was redrawn to give Black voters a better opportunity to elect a candidate of their choosing.
DelBene, a Selma native, said she has a good feeling about Figures and his chances to win on Nov. 5. The DCCC added the 2nd district to its “Red to Blue” program in late May. It was the first time in 16 years that an Alabama congressional seat was added to the DCCC’s program that helps provide resources and staffing to support Democratic candidates.
The National Republican Congressional Committee, likewise, added Dobson to its “Young Guns” list aimed at helping with fundraising and organizational support.
DelBene said it was important for the Democratic Party to get out the vote within the mostly rural district that stretches through Alabama’s Black Belt region.
“We need to remind folks we have this new district and have an incredible candidate running,” she said. “I know when he gets his message out, we win.”
The Black voting age population of the district is 49%, and analysis submitted to the court showed that Black-preferred candidates – who are Democrats – received more votes in the district than their Republican opponents in 16 of 17 recent elections.
The redrawn district, which takes in all or part of 13 counties from Montgomery to Mobile, from the Georgia line to the Mississippi line.
