Senator Vivian Figures
Alabama Senate
Senator Vivian Davis Figures began her political career in 1984 when she ran as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in which capacity she has served six consecutive times. Due to the untimely death of her husband, Michael A. Figures, she was elected in the 1997 general election to the Alabama State Senate to serve the remainder of his term. The victory made her the first African-American woman to be elected to the Senate from Mobile County and the second one in the state of Alabama. In 2008, she became Alabama’s first African American woman to become the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate. Although this was her first statewide run for public office, she garnered 37 percent of the vote while President Barack Obama had 39 percent. She has been recognized for dedicated community and legislative service by numerous organizations, agencies and professional groups. Senator Figures values her family deeply. She is one of nine siblings and is the proud mother of three sons, a stepson, and a granddaughter: Jelani, Shomari, Akil, Derrick and A'Kayle.
