MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) — Only about 1 in 10 African American voters identify as Republican, according to a Pew Research study. More black men than women do so. So it may come as a surprise to some that three of the seven Republican candidates running for the 2nd District are black women. Karla DuPriest is a businesswoman from Mobile. Stacey Shepperson is an educator from McIntosh. Belinda Thomas is a Newton City Council member.
Thomas said she is the only African-American female elected official in the state.
“I was elected in 2020. I was the first African American elected to the Newton City Council,” she said. “I was the first African American to be elected as water board chairman in an all-white district, a Republican district, and I was the first African American to be elected. So I proved myself.”
Mr. DuPriest and Mr. Shepperson say their views best fit with the Republican Party.
I believe in lower taxes,” DuPriest said. “I'm pro-life, pro-gun. Those values are what led me to the Republican Party.”
“I'm a conservative,” Shepperson said. “I have traditional values. I grew up in a single-parent home. I'm a God-fearing woman and I grew up in the church. I'm proud to be a Christian.”
Just because the new 2nd District has more black voters than white voters doesn't mean Democrats will win the seat, black Republican women say.
“You'd be surprised how many people realize we have so much more in common when we actually have a conversation,” Shepperson said. “'She's right. We see some things the same way.'” So we don't need to be as polarizing as we're making. ”
