Another unlikely House district looks like it will be a competitive race. In Alabama 2, Montgomery Mayor Bobby Bright has announced that he will be running for the seat of retiring Representative Terry Everett (R).
http://www.al.com/newsflash/re…
The second district has been a solidly Republican district for many elections (Bush 66% in 2004, 61% in 2000). However, it is a historically Democratic district and has a 29% African-American population.
Bright would be a very conservative Demorcatic member – consistent with this district. What is interesting is that for years ambitious politicians in southern districts like this would gravitate to the Republican party – the fact that Bright chose to run as a Democrat is an encouraging sign for the re-emergence of a 50 state/ 435 district strategy.
Mayor Bright was recruited by both Democrats and Republicans to run for the seat (The Mayor’s office is non-partisan).
Chris Cillizza at the WaPo has more thoughts on Bright’s candidacy and the relationship of his choice to the Presidential election: