In redrawn district, Carl officially commits to reelection

Alabama’s First Congressional District was dramatically redrawn by a three-judge panel in the state’s congressional redistricting case. Most of the city of Mobile has moved to the Second Congressional District and the First District includes large parts of the Wiregrass, including Dothan.

On Monday, U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl (R-Mobile) announced he filed for reelection.

“Today, I’m proud to announce I am filing for reelection to continue representing the people of Alabama’s First Congressional District in Congress,” Carl said in a statement.

“At a time when our borders are being overrun, crime is on the rise in cities across America, and Joe Biden continues leading our country down the wrong path, this country needs more staunch conservatives like me who will deliver results and never back down from the fight.”

Under typical circumstances, incumbents cruise to reelection. But the court-imposed redistricting means the First District has lost a lot of Mobile County voters where Carl lives. In theory, this could make Carl vulnerable, especially since Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) and his home in Coffee County was moved from the Second District into the First District.

Moore has not yet said what he is going to do after the federal courts transformed his into a Democratic-heavy opportunity district and drew his household out.

Carl announced a deep bench of endorsements from state lawmakers and local leaders last week. He’s presumably strongest in Mobile County, where he chaired the County Commission prior to running for Congress. Moore is presumably strongest in the Wiregrass counties that were moved into the First District.

In the redrawn First District, the largest pot of Republican voters in the district are in Baldwin County with a population of 236,436 (July 2023 Census estimate). Baldwin went 81.3% for Katie Britt (the Republican nominee) in 2022. Based on those demographics, whoever carries Baldwin County will likely be the winner of the Republican primary.

“I’m proud of the work my team and I have accomplished already,” Carl said Monday. “Whether it’s our efforts to secure the border, slash wasteful government spending, stop overreach by the Biden admin, and stand firm against any efforts to take away our constitutional rights, we’ve got a lot of work to be done in Washington, and the stakes are simply too high for us to let our foot off the gas and give up on the fight to save this country.

Confirmed. Roll Tide! https://t.co/SEG9rq2JAn pic.twitter.com/wRrSgOnpck

— Rep. Jerry Carl (@RepJerryCarl) October 17, 2023

“Serving Alabama’s First Congressional District in Washington has been the honor of a lifetime, and I am excited to have new counties across the Wiregrass in our district. I’ve already been on the ground in every county in the district, and I’ve been overwhelmed with strong support from folks in every community.”

Carl raised $257,474 toward his reelection campaign in the third quarter of 2023, bringing his campaign war chest total to $1.6 million.

The Alabama Republican Primary is March 5.

To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com