In a rare instance of two incumbent Republicans vying for the same seat, GOP Rep. Barry Moore is projected to triumph over Rep. Jerry Carl in Alabama’s newly delineated 1st Congressional District, according to CNN. This intra-party contest comes at a time when House Republicans are grappling with a historically slim majority and are bracing for a challenging battle to maintain their hold on the chamber in the upcoming 2024 elections.
“This certainly adds a layer of complexity to Speaker Johnson’s mission to retain the House for the Republicans,” opined David Hughes, an Associate Professor of Political Science at Auburn University at Montgomery. Hughes, however, pointed out that alterations to the congressional maps in other states could potentially counterbalance this setback for the Republicans.
Following a federal court’s approval of a new map, Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District, which Moore has previously represented, has been redrawn in a manner that significantly increases its Black population. This demographic shift could potentially provide Democrats with an opportunity to seize this seat. The newly formed 1st District, a staunchly conservative region in southern Alabama, is expected to favor Moore in the general election this November.
The new district amalgamates parts of the former 1st and 2nd Districts. Both Moore and Carl had emphasized their conservative credentials during the campaign. Carl’s campaign portrayed him as a “tough, strong conservative” akin to President Trump, who “doesn’t take no for an answer and will fight for our conservative values.” Moore’s campaign, on the other hand, highlighted his status as a “true conservative” and underscored his alignment with Trump. Moore, a member of the far-right House Freedom Caucus, serves on the House Judiciary and Agriculture committees, while Carl is a member of the House Appropriations and Natural Resources committees.