2nd Congressional District Republican Nominee Caroleene Dobson speaks to an audience member following a debate in Montgomery on Oct. 2, 2024. (Alander Rocha/Alabama Reflector)
The largest law firm in Alabama supports both candidates for Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District: its employee and her opponent.
According to filings with the Federal Election Commission (FEC), the political action committee (PAC) for Maynard Nexsen donated $5,000 to Democratic nominee Shomari Figures and to Caroleene Dobson, the Republican nominee for the district who has practiced law at Maynard since 2019.
Raymond Bell, Jr., listed as the PAC’s treasurer in the FEC Statement of Organization, wrote in an email Thursday morning they support both candidates, asking “why would we not support Figures or both candidates?”
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Bell did not immediately respond to a follow-up question.
FEC filings for the PAC are current through September 30. Filings for congressional campaigns covering July 1 to Sept. 30 are due on Oct. 15.
Caroleene Dobson, Shomari Figures clash on health care, economy in Montgomery debate
Dobson said in a statement Wednesday night that as a large firm with hundreds of attorneys across the country, Maynard Nexsen’s “attorneys span the spectrum in political beliefs and philosophies.”
“As one of its attorneys, I understand that the firm would want to represent all of those varying political beliefs with its contributions,” she said.
Maynard Nexsen has 221 attorneys in the state and 573 nationwide, according to the Birmingham Business Journal, and offices in 10 states and D.C.
Figures’ former employer was the U.S. Department of Justice, which as a federal agency does not make political contributions, though individual employees may do so.
The Figures campaign said in a statement that it welcomes the donation.
“Contributions from any person or organization to our campaign is an investment to further our message that supports the voices of AL-02 who are ready to elect someone who knows how the government works and will bring the resources back home to the people of Alabama,” Anitra Henderson, a spokesperson for the Figures campaign, said Wednesday evening.
Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District, which now includes most of Mobile County, Montgomery, and several rural counties, is expected to lean Democratic, according to the Cook Political Report.
The election is scheduled for Nov. 5.
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