Recent U.S. Supreme Court action allowing Alabama to revert to prior congressional maps prompted State Rep. Rhett Marques to switch his candidacy to the Second District, leaving former Rep. Jerry Carl as the sole major contender in the May 19 Republican primary for the First District. This shift consolidated support behind Carl, whose prior incumbency, local endorsements, and fundraising advantage now position him as the frontrunner in trader assessments. Earlier polling had shown a tight contest between Carl and Marques, with the remaining field of lesser-known candidates holding minimal viability. The upcoming primary date leaves little time for new developments to alter the current alignment, though any last-minute endorsements or turnout surprises in key counties could still influence final results.