Report shows Figures has raised $177,000 in Congressional race

Report shows Figures has raised $177,000 in Congressional race

Shomari Figures of Mobile, a Democrat, has reported the most in campaign contributions so far in Alabama’s redrawn 2nd Congressional District, according to the reports appearing on the Federal Election Commission website.

Two Republican candidates have raised more money than Figures when loans are included in the total.

Wallace Gilberry, a former University of Alabama football player, was among the leaders in fundraising, with $160,000 in contributions. But Gilberry has withdrawn from the race.

Reports were not yet available on the FEC website for some of the candidates. Wednesday was the deadline to file the reports which cover the quarter that ended Dec. 31.

The 2nd District has changed since the last election from a safe Republican district to one where Democrats can win. In October, a federal court approved the new map after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a ruling that the old one likely violated the Voting Rights Act. The change attracted a large field of candidates, with 11 Democrats and seven Republicans in the race.

The 2nd District runs from Montgomery to Mobile and extends from the Georgia line to the Mississippi line. The primary is March 5.

Figures, a former official in the U.S. Justice Department, raised $177,957 in contributions during the period, which ended Dec. 31. Figures loaned his campaign $25,000 for total receipts of $203,457. Figures’ campaign reported spending $53,774.

Another Democratic candidate, Rep. Jeremy Gray of Opelika, reported raising $104,334. Gray’s campaign spent $41,234.

In a news release Thursday, state Sen. Merika Coleman, D-Pleasant Grove, reported raising $112,319.

Other Democrats whose reports were available:

Willie J. Lenard reported raising $34,221, with $33,000 of that from a loan. Lenard’s campaign reported spending $17,660.

Rep. Juandalynn Givan, D-Birmingham, reported raising $20,038, with $7,038 in contributions and a $13,000 loan. Givan’s campaign reported spending $600.

Vimal Patel reported raising $14,2000, including $9,200 in contributions and a $5,000 loan. Patel reported spending $3,880.

Phyllis Harvey-Hall reported raising $7,994 including $2,789 in contributions and a $5,205 loan. Harvey-Hall reported spending $2,981.

James Averhart of Mobile reported raising $5,428, with most of that from a $5,158 loan.

On the Republican side, former state Sen. Dick Brewbaker of Montgomery reported receipts of $341,762, including $41,762 in contributions and a $300,000 loan he made to the campaign. Brewbaker reported spending $131,523.

Caroleene Dobson reported receipts of $311,335, including $61,335 in contributions and a $250,000 loan. Dobson reported spending $42,887.

State Sen. Greg Albritton, R-Atmore, reported receipts of $126,085, including $76,085 in contributions and a $50,000 loan. Albritton reported spending $6,796.

Hampton Harris reported receipts of $55,141, $6,455 in contributions and a $48,000 loan.

There is no incumbent in the race. U.S. Rep. Barry Moore, R-Enterprise, who represents the 2nd District, is challenging U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl, R-Mobile, in the 1st District. The new map moved Enterprise into the 1st District.