Weeks of speculation about who will run for Congress in Alabama’s redrawn 2nd District comes to an end Friday because it is the deadline to qualify with the Democratic and Republican parties.

All seven congressional seats are on the ballot in the March 5 primary.

But the 2nd District has drawn the most candidates after a federal court approved a new map that changed it from a safe Republican district to one where Democrats have a chance to win.

As of Friday morning, nine Democrats had qualified in the district, which previously covered southeast Alabama but now extends from the Georgia to the Mississippi line and includes all of Montgomery County and a northwest portion of Mobile County.

The Democratic candidates are James Averhart; Rep. Napoleon Bracy Jr. of Mobile; Rep. Anthony Daniels of Huntsville; former Justice Department official Shomari Figures; Rep. Jeremy Gray of Opelika; Phyllis Harvey-Hall; Willie J. Lenard; Larry Darnell Simpson; and businessman Vimal Patel of Dothan.

Five Republicans had qualified as of Friday morning. They are Sen. Greg Albritton of Atmore; former Sen. Dick Brewbakerof Montgomery; attorney Caroleene Dobson of Montgomery; Karla M. DuPriest, and Hampton S. Harris.

Republicans hold six of Alabama’s seven congressional seats.

• District 1 U.S. Rep. Barry Moore, R-Enterprise, won the 2nd District election in 2020 and 2022. But Moore’s hometown was moved into the 1st District on the new map. Moore has qualified to challenge the incumbent in District 1, U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl, R-Mobile. Tom Holmes has qualified for the Democratic primary in the 1st District.
• District 3 In the 3rd District, U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Saks, has two Republican challengers. They are Army veteran Bryan Newell of Moody, and Barron Rae Bevels. Rogers has represented the east Alabama district since 2003.
• District 4 In the 4th District, U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt, R-Haleyville, faces Republican challenger Justin Holcomb. Aderholt is seeking his 15th term.
• District 5 In the 5th District, U.S. Rep. Dale Strong, R-Huntsville, who is in his first term, did not have a challenger in either party as of Friday morning.
• District 6 In the 6th District, U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer, R-Hoover, faces two Republican challengers, Ken McFeeters and Gerrick Williams. Palmer is seeking his 6th term.
• District 7 The only Democrat in the delegation, U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell in the 7th District, is seeking her eighth term. Chris Davis has qualified to run against Sewell in the Democratic primary. Robin Litaker qualified to run in the Republican primary in the district.

No Democratic candidates have qualified in the 3rd, 4th, 5th, or 6th districts.

This story will be updated as qualifying continues on Friday.