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The Case Against Rhett Marques

“Shomari Figures is the fighter that the people of Alabama need in Congress. He’s laser-focused on the issues that matter most: lowering costs, expanding access to health care, and creating economic opportunity. While Shomari shows up and puts in the work, his opponent Rhett Marques sells out to the ultra-wealthy who fund his political campaigns. This race will be a choice between a true public servant, and a backbench extremist whose only impact has been voting for tax hike after tax hike on the hardworking people of Alabama. I look forward to welcoming Shomari back to Congress when he wins in November,” said DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene.

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To: Interested Parties
From: Eli Cousin, DCCC Regional Press Secretary
Date: August 11, 2026
Subject: The Case Against Rhett Marques

Shomari Figures shows up and fights for the people of Alabama. An Alabama native, Shomari was raised in his grandfather’s church and knew from a young age that he wanted to give back to the community that raised him. Shomari earned his undergraduate and law degree at the University of Alabama, before following in the footsteps of his late father Michael and mother Vivian who devoted their lives to public service and the Alabama they raised him to love. Now a proud husband and father of four, Shomari is more dedicated than ever to fighting for Alabama families. That’s why Shomari is focused on the issues that matter, rolling up his sleeves and getting to work from the moment he entered Congress. Shomari has worked to lower health care costs and expand access to care, put more money back in families’ pockets, support law enforcement, provide critical relief to family farms, and invest in local infrastructure. And Shomari is doing something that politicians have failed to do: he’s showing up in corners of Alabama that for too long have been ignored and left behind.

Shomari’s Alabama-First approach stands in stark contrast to his opponent Rhett Marques. In his near decade-long time spent as a political backbencher, Marques has established a track record of siding with the ultra-wealthy over hardworking Alabama families. Marques’ primary ‘accomplishment’ has been supporting tax increases and policies that raise prices and make life harder and more expensive for working people. When Marques isn’t voting to drive up costs on the very people he now seeks to represent, he takes great pride in belittling them. Marques has insinuated people in Alabama are unintelligent. Marques’ disdain for the communities he wants to represent, coupled with his votes to place greater financial strain on them, should disqualify him from ever representing the people of the Second District in the halls of Congress.

Alabama needs fighters like Shomari in Congress, and there is a clear path for him to win reelection in November. Polling shows that Shomari is locked in a dead heat with Marques despite politically-motivated efforts to gerrymander him out of his seat. There is already evidence that Black voters across the South are motivated to turn out in response to GOP efforts to silence their voices, and they will play a critical role in Shomari’s victory in November, given that they make up 40% of the new Alabama 2nd Congressional District. As the people of Alabama learn more about Shomari’s record of results and Marques’ record of selling them out to the highest bidder, the choice will become clear.

Marques Has Consistently Put the Ultra-Wealthy Ahead of the Hardworking People of Alabama

Rhett Marques established a clear and troubling pattern during his years in Alabama politics: he consistently prioritizes the ultra-wealthy at the expense of the hardworking people of Alabama.

Marques’ record in office is littered with votes that have forced people to pay more while big corporations and the rich make out like bandits. As a member of the Alabama State Legislature, Marques voted to increase the gas tax and force his constituents to pay more every time they fill up at the pump. The gas tax had not been changed in Alabama since 1992, 27 years before Marques’ tax-spiking vote. After voting to jack up prices at the pump, Marques voted to increase motor vehicle registration fees. In short: Marques has voted to make every part of the daily commute more expensive for the people of Alabama. He has made it clear time and time again that he’s not on their side.

Marques was supporting tax-hiking policies long before he got to the State Legislature. As an Enterprise City Councilmember, Marques voted to increase the city’s sales tax, forcing every single resident to pay more every time they purchased anything from groceries to medication. Marques’ tax-hiking record is so terrible that even members of his own political party have attacked him for making life more expensive, saying that: “Every time you fill up, Rhett Marques costs you.”

 

Now, Marques has decided he wants a promotion. And he’ll do more of the same if he gets to Congress: rubber stamping price-hiking policies that leave Alabama worse off. Marques has already said he wholeheartedly supports the cost-spiking war in Iran, which has caused gas and diesel prices to jump across Alabama. Asked about the pain that the people of Alabama are feeling at the grocery store and the pump because of his support for another reckless war overseas, Marques showed just how out-of-touch he is with everyday people by describing their economic pain as a “temporary setback.” Marques should tell that to the Alabama farmers who have said they are in “survival mode” because of rising prices due to the war, the family in Dothan struggling to choose between the medical bills and the mortgage, or the worker in Montgomery picking up extra shifts to keep up with rising prices.While Marques stiffs Alabama workers, Shomari is working to make sure they keep more of their hard-earned dollars in their own wallets. Shomari has a plan to give a tax break to parents whose kids get involved in academic and athletic extracurricular activities. His plan would create a federal tax deduction of up to $5,000 dollars for parents who pay out of pocket for sports, music, and tutoring programs. And Shomari is also fighting to put more money back in the pockets of Alabama farmers. That’s why he is pushing for a tariff relief program for small and mid-sized Alabama farmers, because he knows they are the backbone of our economy. For Shomari, Alabama families always come first – never big corporations or the ultra-wealthy.

Marques Supports Devastating Health Care Cuts That Are Spiking Costs and Put Alabama Hospitals at Risk 

From Montgomery to Dothan to Phenix City, too many families are struggling with out-of-control health care costs, long drives just to access care, and hospitals and health clinics that are on the brink of closure. If Rhett Marques gets to Congress, his only plan is to make our health care crisis worse.

Marques made his opposition to affordable health care crystal clear when he stated his support for historic cuts to Medicaid. Marques is on the record supporting the federal law that makes the largest cuts to Medicaid in history, slashing nearly $1 trillion in total from the health care program. Across Alabama, more than 150,000 people are expected to be kicked off their health insurance because of the Marques-backed cuts to their care. Multiple rural hospitals across the state of Alabama are at risk of closing their doors as a direct result of these cruel health care cuts. And health care premiums are skyrocketing across the state, leaving families to choose between paying their bills or going without health insurance altogether.

Shomari has a different plan. In Congress, Shomari has already become a leader in the fight to lower costs and expand access to health care. In just his first weeks in Congress, Shomari introduced legislation “to expand health care coverage to millions of Americans who are uninsured.” His proposal is “aimed at expanding health care access for residents of states” like Alabama that have not expanded Medicaid.

 

Shomari has also led the charge to support struggling rural hospitals across Alabama. His bipartisan Rural Hospital Stabilization Act aims to invest more money into the Alabama hospitals that need it most. And Shomari is bringing meaningful investments back home to medical centers and clinics across his community. That includes $1 million for the Jackson Health Care Authority, where Shomari worked alongside local stakeholders and the city’s leadership to ensure the local hospital would be able to keep its doors open. He told local leaders that “closing is not an option” and then helped lead negotiations to ensure that has not happened. He secured funding for Medical Center Barbour that pays for a new MRI machine, which the medical center CEO said will improve patient care and raise revenue. He led bipartisan efforts to keep Bullock County Hospital open. And more help is hopefully on the way: he has fought for $2 million in appropriations for the Troy Regional Medical Center and $750,000 for Crenshaw Community Hospital to help modernize and replace equipment that the community desperately needs. That is the kind of critical, live-saving work that Shomari has led during his time in Congress. Because for Shomari, quality and affordable health care is not a talking point. It’s a priority.

Marques Disrespected the People of Alabama By Suggesting They’re Unintelligent

Why is Rhett Marques so obsessed with ripping away health care access and raising costs on the everyday people of Alabama? Because he views them with disdain. 

On multiple occasions, Marques has flagrantly insulted the same people he now seeks to represent. Marques said that rising costs are just a “temporary setback,” showing flagrant disregard for the financial security and wellbeing of Alabama families.

Marques added insult to injury when he implied that his constituents are unintelligent. While facing criticism for his tax-spiking voting record at a political forum, Marques said of Alabama voters: “These people do not understand how local bills work.” His insult toward the very people he is seeking to represent in Congress was so offensive that members of his own political party criticized him for “question[ing] Alabama voters’ intelligence.”

While Marques belittles the people of Alabama, Shomari is showing up and fighting for them every single day. The four-term mayor of Eufaula, Alabama – “who votes Republican” – highlighted how Shomari has shown up for his community while those in the past have not. “I’ve seen him four times since he went into office,” the mayor said. “I can’t say that about the previous guy…The guy before him, and the guy before him, weren’t doing that,” he added. That same praise for Shomari’s leadership is echoed across other corners of the district. The mayor of Tuskegee applauded Shomari for delivering $1M to help build a public safety center in Tuskegee, saying that he could not “even remember seeing our Congressman before” Shomari was elected.

Shomari is meeting with his constituents face to face at town halls to hear their concerns. That includes meeting with farmers in Troy and Tuskegee to discuss rising fuel and fertilizer costs, tariffs, and the farm bill. It includes hosting a senior resource fair in Eufaula to connect rural residents with health care and services they need. And it includes holding a town hall with Montgomery residents to talk about his work to lower costs. Shomari will keep showing up and fighting for Alabama as long as he is in Congress. That’s because for Shomari, Alabama is home.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

AL.com: Alabama Republican targets Trump-endorsed opponent who voted for tax increase [AL.com, 7/27/26]

“Every time you fill up, Rhett Marques costs you,” the headline on a campaign mailer by Harris reads.

ALPolitics: Rhett Marques Profanity Laden Tirade Rocks Republican Candidate Forum [ALPolitics, 8/6/26]

As a Congressional Candidate Forum was wrapping up in Eufaula on Tuesday night, when State Representative Rhett Marques and his campaign consultant… began hurling F-bombs and profanity […] Lost in the entire exchange was the fact that indeed Rhett had voted for the legislation that has increased the gas tax by 67 percent on Alabama families and climbing.

Alabama Daily News: Democratic poll shows potential tight race in AL-2 [Alabama Daily News, 7/14/26]

An internal Democratic poll shows U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures, D-Mobile, and State Rep. Rhett Marques, R-Enterprise, in a dead heat for Alabama’s newly redrawn 2nd Congressional District.

AL.com: Can Shomari Figures win? All eyes on suddenly competitive Alabama congressional district [AL.com, 6/21/26]

Democrats see several reasons the district remains winnable: Montgomery turnout was strong during the May 19 primary, with 35.4% of voters casting ballots and more expected in November […] Black voter mobilization is rising amid anger over Supreme Court decisions this spring viewed as weakening the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Republican turnout uncertainty persists after GOP participation slumped in some conservative counties during the primary. The Figures family legacy remains well known and influential in Alabama politics.

BBC: He made history in Congress – then the Supreme Court changed its mind [BBC, 7/17/26]

“Eufaula’s four-term mayor, Jack Tibbs […] who votes Republican but is nonpartisan in his role, praised Figures’ impact on the community. ‘I’ve seen him four times since he went into office,’ Tibbs said. ‘I can’t say that about the previous guy.’” 

NOTUS: Why a New Democratic Member From a Red State Wants to Focus on the Issues [NOTUS, 3/14/25]

Alabama is one of 10 states that has not expanded Medicaid, and Figures helped introduce a bill aimed at expanding health care access for residents of states that haven’t done so.

Alabama Daily News: Figures’ mantra for his first year in office involves one question [Alabama Daily News, 12/26/25]

Figures said he and his team start off discussing each issue that comes to their office with one simple question. “How does this impact people in the district?” Figures, D-Mobile, said in a brief interview with Alabama Daily News as he walked back to his Washington office at the end of the 2025 session.

Alabama Political Reporter: Rep. Figures introduces $15 billion tariff relief bill for small, mid-sized farmers [Alabama Political Reporter, 7/16/26]

WAKA Action 8 News: U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures helps sponsor bill to broaden health care coverage [WAKA Action 8 News, 2/6/25]

U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures (D-Alabama) has announced that he is a lead co-sponsor for a bill to expand health care coverage to millions of Americans who are uninsured.

AL.com: Alabama congressman’s bill would give parents up to $5,000 for kids’ sports, music lessons, tutoring [AL.com, 6/24/26]

Rep. Shomari Figures, D-Ala, has introduced legislation intended to help reduce financial barriers for families to afford extracurricular activities for their children. The measure, dubbed the Affordable Youth Enrichment Opportunities Act, would create a federal tax deduction of up to $5,000 dollars for parents who pay out of pocket for youth programs.

WSFA: Rep. Shomari Figures secures millions in federal funding for major Montgomery projects [WFSA, 3/10/26]

WALA: Rep. Figures announces $1 million for Jackson, Alabama Health Care Authority [WALA, 11/23/25]

Troy Messenger: Rep. Shomari Figures secures authorization of $50 million to strengthen water infrastructure across Alabama [Troy Messenger, 7/15/26]

WSFA: More than $2M in federal funds headed to Tuskegee and Crenshaw County for public safety, recreation [WSFA, 12/8/25]

WAKA Action 8 News: U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures introduces bill for Tuskegee Airmen Memorial in Washington, DC [WAKA Action 8 News, 7/27/26]

AL.com: Shomari Figures outraises GOP rivals in Alabama congressional race [AL.com, 7/21/26]

PATH TO VICTORY

Voters across Alabama’s Second Congressional District will have a clear choice between a proven fighter who delivers for the district, or a career backbencher who sides with the ultra-wealthy over working people. That stark contrast is a major reason Shomari has a clear path to victory in November. 

Polling shows that Shomari is locked in a dead heat and primed to make gains in the newly redrawn Second District. A poll conducted by IMPACT Research found Shomari with 44% of the vote, compared to 45% for Marques. If Republicans thought they could easily draw Shomari out of his district and that he would go away without a fight, this data shows nothing could be further from the truth.

Under the new district lines, 56% of current residents are already represented by Shomari in Congress. Black voters make up 40% of the voting-age population, nearly half of whom are in Montgomery County. Montgomery historically supports Democrats — Shomari won by 31 points in 2024 — and the county makes up 30% of the new district. There is already evidence that Black voters are highly motivated to turn out to vote in response to cynical political efforts to silence their voices by gutting the Voting Rights Act. Analysis from VoteHub shows that Black voter turnout has been significantly higher in Alabama across primary elections since the VRA was gutted. The author of that analysis writes that: “Alabama’s results are especially notable, considering that four counties—Bullock, Lowndes, Macon, and Montgomery—make up much of the state’s Second Congressional District.” The Second District is also home to Alabama State and Tuskegee University – two historic HBCU’s that will be essential to Shomari’s win margin.

Shomari will also benefit from a strong top of the ticket candidate in former U.S. Senator Doug Jones, who carried the new Second District lines by 12 points during the 2017 U.S. Senate Special Election during the first Trump administration. Both Jones and Shomari will have the resources needed to communicate effectively to voters across the Dothan, Montgomery, and Columbus media markets.

This race will ultimately be about who the people of Alabama believe is fighting for them and their families. Shomari has consistently delivered for communities across Alabama’s Second Congressional District that have been forgotten and ignored for far too long by politicians like Marques. That’s why Shomari will win in November.

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