Biography
Shomari Coleman Figures, born on September 3, 1985, in Mobile, Alabama, is a Democratic politician serving as the U.S. Representative for Alabama's 2nd Congressional District since January 3, 2025. He is the son of the late Michael Figures, a civil rights attorney and Alabama state senator, and Vivian Davis Figures, who succeeded her husband in the state senate and continues to serve. Figures' father notably led a lawsuit that bankrupted the Ku Klux Klan after the lynching of a Black teenager in Mobile in 1981.
Raised in Mobile, Figures attended John L. LeFlore High School before pursuing higher education at the University of Alabama. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and History in 2006 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Alabama School of Law in 2010.
Figures began his career as a law clerk in the federal court system and later worked on President Barack Obama's 2012 reelection campaign. He served in the Obama administration as the Domestic Director of Presidential Personnel and as the White House liaison to Attorney General Loretta Lynch. Subsequently, he worked as legislative counsel for U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown and participated in the Biden-Harris Transition Team. Before his congressional run, Figures served as Deputy Chief of Staff and Counselor to Attorney General Merrick Garland.
In the 2024 elections, Figures was elected to represent Alabama's newly redrawn 2nd Congressional District, becoming the state's second Black member of Congress alongside Representative Terri Sewell. His campaign focused on expanding Medicaid, improving education, fostering economic development, and protecting voting rights.
Figures is married to Dr. Kalisha Dessources Figures, an impact strategist with a Ph.D. from Yale University. They have three children.
Education and Political Experience
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Education:
- Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and History, University of Alabama, 2006
- Juris Doctor, University of Alabama School of Law, 2010
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Political Experience:
- Law Clerk, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri
- Field Organizer, President Barack Obama's 2012 Reelection Campaign
- Domestic Director of Presidential Personnel, Obama Administration
- White House Liaison to Attorney General Loretta Lynch
- Legislative Counsel, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown
- Member, Biden-Harris Transition Team
- Deputy Chief of Staff and Counselor to Attorney General Merrick Garland
- U.S. Representative, Alabama's 2nd Congressional District, 2025–present
As a congressman, Figures serves on the Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. He holds the position of Vice Ranking Member on both the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture and the Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
Figures' legislative priorities include expanding healthcare access, improving educational opportunities, fostering economic development, and protecting voting rights.
