Matthews Says Previous Alabama Map "Never Made Sense," Urges Focus on Communities Over Court Battles

OZARK, Ala. - May 30, 2026 - Republican congressional candidate David Matthews said Friday that the ongoing Supreme Court fight over Alabama's congressional map underscores a reality many residents of the Wiregrass have long understood: the former district configuration linking Mobile with the Wiregrass did not reflect how Alabamians actually live, work, or identify their communities.

Matthews, an Ozark native and two‑time presidential appointee under Donald J. Trump, argued that congressional districts should be shaped around shared local interests rather than legal theories or political strategies devised far from the communities affected.

"The decision in this case will affect real people, real communities, and the quality of representation Alabama families receive in Washington," Matthews said. "Courts can rule on district lines, but communities have to live under them. Anyone who knows the basics about Alabama understands that Mobile and the Wiregrass should not have been tied together in a district."

He said Mobile and Dothan are both integral parts of the state but represent "entirely different economies, cultures, and needs," and that congressional representation should reflect those differences.

"Districts Should Make Sense to the People Who Live in Them"

Matthews emphasized that his criticism is not aimed at Mobile or Baldwin County, but at the logic behind the previous map.

"Dothan, Enterprise, Montgomery, Tuskegee, Eufaula, Wetumpka, Millbrook, and the rest of Alabama's Second District deserve a voice focused on their communities too," he said. "Districts are supposed to connect places with common concerns. The previous map certainly failed that test."

He argued that the purpose of a congressional district is "direct service," not political convenience.

"A congressional district should connect citizens with a representative who can serve them," Matthews said. "It should not be a collection of communities forced together because the lines are more convenient for outside legal groups, political operatives, or national interests."

Campaign Continues Amid Legal Uncertainty

With Alabama's redistricting litigation still pending before the U.S. Supreme Court, Matthews said his campaign is preparing for the state's special election schedule and treating August 11 as the operative date for voters.

"We respect the judicial process, and we are watching the case closely," he said. "But voters should not have to follow constant litigation just to know where they stand. District lines should bring communities closer to their representative, not the other way around."

Background and Experience

Matthews highlighted his background in agriculture, rural development, and federal policy - experience he says aligns directly with the needs of the Wiregrass and the broader Second District.

During his service at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, he worked with the Farm Service Agency and Rural Development on programs involving farm operations, rural lending, broadband expansion, water and electric systems, housing, and small‑business growth.

"District 2 does not need another politician who gives speeches and lectures people about legislation," Matthews said. "It needs a conservative fighter who knows how to make government work for the people it is supposed to serve."

"This Is Our Home, Our Voice, and Our Representation"

Matthews urged voters to stay engaged as the legal process continues.

"Nobody in District 2 should look at this moment and think, 'it is what it is,'" he said. "District lines decide whether communities are seen, heard, and served by someone who understands them. We need our district back because the people who live here deserve representation built around their lives, not a political arrangement forced on them from a distance."