2026 Catholic Voter Guide

Alabama

Where the candidates stand on the issues Pope Leo XIV has raised, in their own words and votes. Every position links to its source.

Election Day · Tuesday, Nov. 3
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Alabama has no general early in-person voting; voters use absentee ballots. Mailed absentee ballots must be received by noon on Election Day; hand-delivered ballots are due by 5 p.m. the day before. Official source ↗

How to use this guide. For each race, open an issue to see what Pope Leo XIV has taught and what each candidate has said or done, side by side. Where a candidate has served in office, we add their recorded votes on the same key bills for everyone in that chamber, linked to the official roll call. We summarize; we do not score or endorse. Candidates are listed alphabetically. Where we could not find a public position, we say so. Click any bracketed source to read it yourself. New to Catholic voting principles? Start with our national guide to Faithful Citizenship.
Alabama · 2026

U.S. House, District 2

Incumbent Shomari Figures (D) running in a district Alabama redrew in 2026 to favor Republicans.

Download printable PDF ↓
Shomari Figures
Democrat · Incumbent
U.S. Representative since 2025; former Justice Department official.
Rhett Marques
Republican · Challenger
Alabama state representative since 2018; owner and manager of Goodson Tire & Auto.
Campaign website ↗
War & PeaceIran, Gaza, Ukraine, war powers›
Pope Leo XIVLeo invited citizens of every country involved in the war with Iran to contact their leaders and members of Congress “to work for peace and to reject war and violence.”Remarks at Castel Gandolfo, Apr. 7, 2026 (Vatican News via The Good Newsroom)
Shomari Figures
Voted for Iran war powers resolutions, saying the president “started a war with Iran without congressional approval”; voted for the Ukraine Support Act.
[1] Figures statement on Iran war powers resolution[2] House roll call 85 (2026): Iran war powers resolution[3] House roll call 207 (2026): Ukraine Support Act
Voting record
Rhett Marques
No public position found.
AI & the Dignity of WorkAI rules, unions, workers displaced by automation›
Pope Leo XIV“No one can be reduced to productivity, to cognitive performance, or to mere data.”Magnifica Humanitas presentation, May 25, 2026
Shomari Figures
His platform supports workers’ right “to advocate as a collective when workers choose to organize”; voted for the Faster Labor Contracts Act (2026).
[1] Ballotpedia: Shomari Figures[2] House roll call 216 (2026): Faster Labor Contracts Act
Voting record
Rhett Marques
No campaign statement found. See voting record below.
Record in office
The Poor & the Safety NetMedicaid, SNAP, health care, wages›
Pope Leo XIVThe preferential choice for the poor is “a source of extraordinary renewal both for the Church and for society.”Dilexi Te, Oct. 4, 2025
Shomari Figures
Voted against the 2025 reconciliation law, calling it “a handout for the rich,” and offered an amendment against shifting SNAP costs to states; co-sponsors a bill to extend Medicaid coverage in non-expansion states.
[1] House roll call 190 (2025): One Big Beautiful Bill Act[2] Figures statement on 2025 reconciliation bill[3] Figures: COVER Now Act
Voting record
Rhett Marques
No campaign statement found. See voting record below.
Record in office
Life of the UnbornAbortion, IVF, assisted suicide›
Pope Leo XIVAbortion “cuts short a growing life and refuses to welcome the gift of life.”Address to the Diplomatic Corps, Jan. 9, 2026
Shomari Figures
His campaign platform pledged to “protect reproductive rights”; voted against the 2025 Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act.
[1] Ballotpedia: Shomari Figures[2] House roll call 27 (2025): Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act
Voting record
Rhett Marques
Says “I voted for the strongest pro-life law in our country” and calls for defunding Planned Parenthood.
[1] Ballotpedia: Rhett Marques
Record in office
The Death PenaltyCapital punishment›
Pope Leo XIVSomeone who opposes abortion but favors the death penalty “is not really pro-life.”AP via PBS NewsHour, Sept. 30, 2025
Shomari Figures
No public position found.
Rhett Marques
No campaign statement found. See voting record below.
Record in office
Immigrants & RefugeesDeportations, enforcement, asylum, citizenship›
Pope Leo XIV“Defending human life also includes welcoming, protecting and assisting immigrants.”Letter on the 250th Anniversary of the United States, June 25, 2026
Shomari Figures
Voted for the Laken Riley Act (2025) and against the SAVE Act.
[1] House roll call 23 (2025): Laken Riley Act[2] House roll call 102 (2025): SAVE Act
Voting record
Rhett Marques
Pledges to keep “criminal illegal aliens out of our communities” and praises the “Detain and Deport” approach.
[1] Ballotpedia: Rhett Marques
Religious Liberty & EducationConscience, school choice, Catholic schools and charities›
Pope Leo XIVReligious freedom is “the right of every person to worship according to conscience.”Letter on the 250th Anniversary of the United States, June 25, 2026
Shomari Figures
No campaign statement found. See voting record below.
Voting record
Rhett Marques
Says he will work to preserve “our Christian values” for future generations; also pledges to keep critical race theory and DEI programs out of schools.
[1] Alabama Reflector/APR: Marques wins GOP nomination[2] Ballotpedia: Rhett Marques
Record in office
Care for CreationClimate, energy, environment›
Pope Leo XIV“We cannot love God, whom we cannot see, while despising his creatures.”AP, Oct. 1, 2025
Shomari Figures
Voted against the Protecting American Energy Production Act (2025); the House passed his bipartisan Estuaries Act on coastal protection.
[1] House roll call 35 (2025): Protecting American Energy Production Act[2] House passes Figures’ Estuaries Act
Voting record
Rhett Marques
No public position found.
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