Trump endorses Carl, Marques in Alabama congressional races

President Donald Trump endorsed the two front-running Republican candidates for Alabama’s 1st and 2nd Congressional Districts on Monday.

Former U.S. Representative Jerry Carl is seeking the Republican nomination for the 1st Congressional District seat set to be vacated by U.S. Representative Barry Moore, R-Alabama, who is running for the seat currently held by U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville, R-Alabama.

State Senator Rhett Marques, R-Enterprise, is seeking the Republican nomination in the 2nd Congressional District, which has been held since last year by U.S. Representative Shomari Figures, D-Alabama.

Trump’s endorsements of the two Alabamians came among numerous candidate endorsements he released Monday on Truth Social. The endorsements similarly described Marques and Carl as supporting American farmers and agricultural workers, border security and “election integrity.”

“Rhett is strongly supported by many of the Greatest MAGA Warriors in Alabama, including my friend, U.S. Senator Katie Britt, among others!” Trump wrote.

“A Highly Respected Legislator, and Successful Businessman, Jerry has been an incredible Voice for MAGA, and has been with me from the very beginning!” Trump wrote of Carl.

The congressional candidates thanked Trump on Monday for endorsing their respective bids.

“Thank you, Mr. President! I am honored to have your support, and I look forward to delivering on your America First agenda in Congress. AL-02 will never let you down,” Marques wrote on social media Monday.

“I am incredibly honored to receive the official endorsement of President Donald J. Trump!” Carl wrote. “His commitment to putting America First is exactly what our country needs, and I am proud to stand with him in this fight.”

On Monday evening, Carl and Marques received additional endorsements from U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana; House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minnesota; and House Republican Conference Chair Lisa McClain, R-Michigan.

While they now share endorsements from federal Republican leadership, Marques and Carl were previously rivals in the 2026 congressional race.

Marques’ district placement faced substantial changes in recent months because of legal challenges to rulings against the state’s 2023 congressional map, drawn by the Legislature in response to earlier court rulings, and the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Louisiana v. Callais.

Both Carl and Marques were running for the 1st Congressional District Republican nomination until May.

The Supreme Court on May 12 vacated federal court rulings that found Alabama’s state-drawn congressional map racially discriminatory, including an injunction barring the state from using the map.

After the decision, Marques announced that he would run in the 2nd Congressional District. However, the Northern District of Alabama ruled against the Legislature-drawn congressional map, forcing Marques to briefly shift back to the 1st Congressional District.

When the Supreme Court again ruled June 2 in favor of the state’s ability to use the previously struck map, Marques requalified for the 2nd Congressional District.

The decision drew support from both Marques and Carl, who had previously been engaged in a competitive race for the front-running position in the crowded 1st Congressional District Republican field.

After the decision, Marques also called for Alabama to enact a fully Republican congressional map.

“Alabamians deserve congressional representation that reflects who we are: a proudly conservative, red state. That means a 7-0 map, not 6-1,” Marques wrote.

Special primaries to determine the 1st and 2nd Congressional District Republican nominees will be held August 11, 2026.

Marques faces fellow Republican candidates Christian Horn, David Mathews, James Richardson, Joshua McKee and Hampton Harris.

Carl will face Republican candidates Austin Sidwell, John Mills and Lucas Burger. The winner of the 1st Congressional District nomination will face Democrat Clyde Jones during the November 3 general election.