Alabama House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels admitted last week that he’s thinking about running for Congress in the newly redrawn Second Congressional District.
Earlier this month, a three-judge panel approved a map redrawn by a special master that changed the Black voting age population in Alabama’s Second Congressional District to 48.7%.
Many Democrats now believe they have a better chance to win the seat in 2024.
Daniels (D-Huntsville) discussed the congressional race Friday on Alabama Public Television’s “Capitol Journal.”
“I am entertaining it,” Daniels said. “I’m strongly considering it.”
Other state politicians considering running for the seat include State Sen. Kirk Hatcher (D-Montgomery), Jefferson County Commissioner Sheila Tyson, State Sen. Merika Coleman (D-Birmingham), and State Rep. Juandalynn Givan (D-Birmingham).
“At the end of the day you’ve got to look at how effective you can be in that role,” Daniels said. “And when Alabama is looking at sending someone to Congress, they’re going to have to look at those dynamics. How effective can this person be? How effective have they been in the role that they’re currently in?”
The Huntsville lawmaker believes he might be the right person because he has a record of working across the aisle to “get things done.”
“It’s not just filling a seat, it’s filling a void,” he said. “It’s looking at whether Republicans or Democrats are in charge in Washington, you need someone that’s going to have the ability to get things done. And at the end of the day, people, that’s what they’re saying to me. ‘You’ve gotten things done in a Republican super-majority. You’ve been able to do it without compromising the principles of being a Democrat.’ And I said to them at the end of the day it’s about Alabama. It’s about the district. It’s about our state and growth and opportunity.”
Daniels said his experience as the Minority Leader will only help him if he gets elected to Congress.
“Legislative experience does help prepare you for another layer of legislative experience,” he said. “So day one you’re not trying to figure out the job.”
He also knows he might be in for a tough fight in the primary if he ultimately jumps in the race.
“I think there will be some wonderful people running for this office that have great credentials and great opportunity,” he said. “So I think there will likely be a crowded field. If I decide to get in, I’ll get in and I’ll work extremely hard.”
Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on Twitter @Yaffee
