DOTHAN, Ala. — As Alabama prepares for upcoming elections, Democrats are mounting efforts to regain ground in a region long dominated by Republicans. At a recent event at Mural City Coffee Company in south Alabama, supporters gathered to hear from Doug Jones, the Democratic candidate for governor and the state’s last Democrat to hold statewide office.

Jones, who previously served as U.S. senator and lost his seat to Republican Tommy Tuberville in 2020, is seeking a rematch. Jones emphasized a widespread desire for change among voters dissatisfied with nearly two decades of Republican control in Alabama. “People want change,” Jones said, citing concerns over economic issues, healthcare, and government responsiveness.

Local voters echoed these frustrations. Jeff Scroggins, a government contractor from Slocomb, expressed his support for Jones despite being the “black sheep” in a politically conservative family. Other attendees highlighted opposition to state policies such as Alabama’s stringent abortion ban and criticized controversial statements from Tuberville, including comments about Islam.

Jones is not the only Democrat aiming to challenge Republican incumbents in the Deep South. In Mississippi, district attorney Scott Colom is campaigning against Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, seeking to capitalize on a sizable base of Black voters and discontent with current leadership. In Georgia, former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms is contesting a governor’s race that Democrats have consistently lost since 2002. Democratic hopefuls also hope to make inroads in U.S. Senate contests in Louisiana and South Carolina.

While Democrats face entrenched Republican dominance, recent shifts suggest potential openings. Alabama, for example, saw Democratic primary turnout double since 2022, with some counties—including a technology hub in the north—recording more Democratic than Republican voters in the primaries. Jones noted the importance of translating voter enthusiasm into turnout on Election Day.

A significant challenge for Democrats involves redistricting changes following the U.S. Supreme Court’s rollback of the Voting Rights Act. Shomari Figures, one of Alabama’s two Black U.S. House members, spoke at an event at Troy University about efforts to counter the Republican-driven redrawing of his district, which reduced the proportion of Black voters. Figures, who won his seat after a federal court corrected previous district boundaries deemed to dilute minority voting power, remains confident despite the changes. He and Jones both pointed to Alabama’s low median income—$34,000 annually before expenses—and the state’s refusal to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act as pressing issues for working families.

Figures is facing Republican Rhett Marques, a state lawmaker endorsed by former President Donald Trump, with both candidates raising comparable funds approaching $1.3 million.

In Mississippi, Colom is optimistic about overcoming Republican incumbent Hyde-Smith, citing the state’s significant Black electorate and growing dissatisfaction with the economy. Recent close races in neighboring states, including Georgia’s Senate contests, serve as models for Democrats aiming to expand their support across rural, suburban, and urban communities.

Republicans in Alabama remain confident they will maintain control. State GOP Chairman Scott Stadthagen dismissed talk of a Democratic resurgence as inconsistent with the preferences of conservative voters. Tuberville, who has declined Jones’ invitation to debate, framed his campaign as a choice against an ideology he said does not align with Alabama’s electorate. He plans to campaign alongside Trump at an upcoming rally in Mobile.

Despite longstanding Republican dominance, Democratic candidates continue to draw energized crowds. Supporters such as Sam Phillips noted the exceptional enthusiasm at recent events in Alabama, describing the atmosphere as hopeful in a region often seen as politically impenetrable. Gwendolyn Davis, a retired teacher from Troy, stresses the importance of voter mobilization, recognizing the potential impact of election participation on the state’s political future.