This is an opinion column.

Go figures.

Hold on, now. Don’t read that opener as a full-on endorsement of the Democratic nominee for Alabama’s spankin’-new 2d congressional district. It’s (ahem) more of an acknowledgment—and a phrase-play—that, well, Who knew?

Who knew a man few Alabamians outside of Mobile had even heard of, a man who had not lived in the state since his youth, a man who has never been elected to public office nor with any legislative experience would be poised to become only the second Democrat—and second African American—among Alabama’s seven U.S. congressional representatives?

Go figures.

Shomari Figures, of course, has a familiar name. He’s the middle child of Alabama state Sen. Vivian Figures and her late husband Michael, both political stalwarts in the Mobile region. That moniker and pedigree, along with formidable fund-raising, more than $1.1 million in support from a crypto-backed PAC, and a message that resonated with a preponderance of residents in the new, disparate, court-drawn district helped the 38-year-old husband and father of three daughters overcome a crowded primary field and dominate last Tuesday’s runoff against House minority leader Rep. Anthony Daniels with 61% of the vote (21,926 to 13,990).

Now, he’ll face Republican Caroleene Dodson, another millennial (she’s 40) and political neophyte, in November’s general election.

And he has a good chance to become only the fourth African American since Reconstruction elected to congress representing one of Alabama’s seven districts, the first not from D7, the sole majority-Black district.

Go figures.

Evan Milligan was among many who strove for years to reshape the state’s gerrymandered districts. Six were Etch-A-Sketched to ensure being safely Republican, leaving Black voters in those districts all but disenfranchised. African Americans comprise 27 percent of the state’s population, but in those districts, their vote was diluted, deflated, and diffused.

Less viable than the tainted soil upon which too many of them live.

Milligan is executive director of Alabama Forward, the statewide civic engagement network at the center of the historic legal battle against the state’s congressional districts. He is the named plaintiff in Allen (Secretary of State Wes Allen) v. Milligan, the case that rocked the state last summer when the conservative-leaning U.S. Supreme Court, stunningly ruled 5-4 that Alabama’s congressional districts were racist and violated Section 2 of the Voting Right Act.

That they were unconstitutional.

Go figures.

A three-judge federal court redrew the lines after obstinate Alabamians failed to do so to its satisfaction. Now, Blacks, who vote overwhelmingly Democratic, represent 47.6% of voting-age D2 voters; whites, who vote overwhelming Republican in this state, represent 45%.

The district is now widely labeled “likely Democratic”.

Not long after the runoff result was clear, Evans, after waiting almost a year for the race before the race to be settled, said he was “dug in” for the final stretch and confident Black D2 voters were, too.

“I think we’ll see some of the highest voter turnout numbers for these counties in congressional district 2 in history,” he told me. “There are lots of people in those communities who will be engaged by the opportunity to weigh in on an election where they feel that their vote actually can impact the outcome.”

Daniels had the best line of the primary season: It would be a shame to win the case but lose the race.

Worse than a shame. Shameful. A waste of the time, efforts, almost incalculable resources—and providence– needed to get us here. And it could happen.

Following the primary, Republicans were salivating as Democrats cast only 161 more votes than Republicans within the counties consisting of the newly drawn district.

Republican lawmakers during this do-little-productive legislative session even tried to shape-shift the November turnout among Black voters by slating a vote on any proposed gambling/lottery legislation for September 10, a special election that would cost taxpayers $5 million.

Their dastardly thinking is Blacks will more likely turnout for a gambling/lottery vote than the presidential election in a state presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump will certainly win. (Though lawmakers may be outsmarting themselves because the House and Senate can’t even agree on a version of a gambling/lottery bill to send to voters.)

Smelly, right? Go figures.

In overall primary runoff voting, however, the gap was a blowout district wide: 10,774, with Dems casting 35,916 votes and Republicans 25,142.

Milligan believes Figures and a unified Democratic front—stop laughing—can inspire a similar turnout in November, gambling/lottery vote or not.

“[High Black voter turnout] would take a candidate who has enough idealism, work ethic, and the ability to inspire both those closest to them and those meeting them more recently. Someone with a vision, who’s relatable, and has a sincere compassion for the people they want to serve. Also, a degree of humility, and measured expectations around what can actually happen so they limit over-promising and people are given a sense of false hope.

“I think Shomari Figures embodies all of those things,” he added.

Community activism is lodged in Milligan’s DNA. He and the vast legal minds that navigated uncertain waters towards a historic high-court ruling are gratified to be at this juncture, Milligan can hardly contain his passion for the work required in the weeks ahead. And for the potential impact of an historic vote.

“It’s gonna be a really exciting spring-summer-fall,” he said, “not only for [Figures’] campaign, obviously, but for the civic engagement community throughout Alabama—and certainly in congressional district 2—to celebrate hope for the state, to celebrate emerging leaders, folks they may have been watching who were living and totally focused somewhere else, even though they have a deep personal connection to Alabama.

“This could be that thing to motivate folks to really think about investing here, whether it’s their time, presence, money, encouragement, or prayers—to really invest something that costs them personally. When we have enough Alabamians who are abroad, elsewhere in the state, or even right here in the region who begin to find that inspiration for the state it’s really going to be an exciting time.

“So, I’m dug in. I’m dug in.”

It certainly figures.

I’m a member of the National Association of Black Journalists Hall of Fame and a Pulitzer Prize finalist for commentary. My column appears on AL.com, as well as the Lede. Tell me what you think at [email protected], and follow me at twitter.com/roysj, or on Instagram @roysj.