Alabama Senate minority leader Bobby Singleton, who has represented the 24th District, which includes much of the Black Belt, since 2005, says he is forming an exploratory committee to run for the U.S. Congress in District 7. The seat is currently held by Rep. Terri Sewell, who has represented the district in Washingon, D.C. since 2011. Sewell has said she will run for re-election.

“I’m looking forward to making a run for the seventh congressional district,” Singleton said Tuesday, a day after a Special Master produced three proposed Alabama congressional district maps to a three-judge federal district court that provide two Alabama districts where registered Black voters are in the majority.” I just believe district representation for the Black Belt has been lacking. I was in [Washington] D.C. over the weekend and talked to a couple of consultants. We’re putting together an exploratory committee to look at this.”

District 7 encompasses much of Jefferson County, including Birmingham, as well as large segments of the Black Belt and Selma, Sewell’s hometown.

The percentage of Black voting-age population in the Special Master’s Remedial Plans 1 and 2 are 52.8%, and in Remedial Plan 3, it is 51.9%.

“While Jefferson County and Birmingham are still in this new map,” Singleton said. “[I’m looking to be] someone who can represent them both effectively. I look forward to it.”

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Qualifying for the congressional races begins this Friday, September 29 and extends through November 10.

“There’s nothing definite,” Singleton added. “At the end of the day, I look forward to representing that district. If the exploratory committee comes back with something positive, we’ll be in it. If not, we wish [Sewell] good luck.”