Barry Moore ‘seriously praying’ whether to run for re-election

Barry Moore ‘seriously praying’ whether to run for re-election

The Republican Alabama congressman whose district is about to become more competitive after a special master’s proposals include a majority or near-majority of Black voters said Thursday he is still weighing whether to run for re-election.

“We’re seriously praying about it, and we’ll make a decision once we get a map,” Rep. Barry Moore, R-Enterprise, told “The Yaffee Program” on Thursday, referring to his family.

“We really love the people, love the constituents, and appreciate the state that we serve in,” the congressman said. “We’re praying through this, and that’s not just tongue and cheek, we really seek the Lord in what we do … and so we will take things gradually. We certainly enjoy serving. It’s certainly on honor to do this job, as so we’re taking it one day at a time.

Special Master Richard Allen, who was appointed by a three-judge federal court to propose redistricting maps after finding the Alabama Legislature’s two maps likely violate the Voting Rights Act, has redrawn the Second Congressional District into a second opportunity district for Black voters to elect a candidate of their choice. Alabama’s Seventh Congressional District, represented by Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Birmingham, is currently the only Black majority district in the state.

All three plans put Moore in the First District seat held by Rep. Jerry Carl, R-Mobile, who said earlier this week he would run for re-election in the First Congressional District.

In all of Allen’s drawings, the Second Congressional District has a Black voting population of 50 percent or close to 50 percent by splitting Mobile County between the First and Second congressional districts.

Moore told “The Yaffee Program” he did not agree with the U.S. Supreme Court decision to deny a stay that would have allowed Alabama to use a state Legislature-drawn map, and said that Montgomery should have been in charge of redistricting.

“To me, it seems like they’ve almost taken race and made it the primary issue,” he said. “Communities of interest went by the wayside.”

The court has not yet approved a redistricting map.

It has scheduled a hearing for Oct. 3. Secretary of State Wes Allen has told the court the state needs a new map ready by early October to prepare for next year’s elections.