Erdreich was born in Birmingham, Alabama to an upper-middle-class family. He attended Yale University, graduating in 1960. He served as editor of the Alabama Law Review while attending the University of Alabama law school, graduating in 1963. He passed the bar that year.
In 1982, Erdreich was elected to Congress from the 6th District, based in Birmingham, defeating one-term Republican incumbent Albert Smith, Jr. To date, this is the last time a Democratic challenger defeated a Republican congressman in Alabama. He is among a small number of Jewish politicians to be elected to federal office from the Deep South.
Erdreich was the first Democrat to represent the 6th since 1965. It was among the five districts won in 1964 by Republicans during Barry Goldwater's sweep of the state in that year's presidential election. Analysts believe that Goldwater's performance in Alabama was also related to resistance and opposition to federal passage of civil rights legislation in 1964, including the Civil Rights Act, that was disapproved of by many white residents.
Erdreich was re-elected four times, rarely facing serious opposition. However, in 1992, Erdreich's district was significantly redrawn as a result of a United States Department of Justice directive to create a majority-black district in the Birmingham area in order to overcome problems of voter dilution. African Americans had been divided into different districts that diluted their voting power by making them a minority in each district, preventing them from electing candidates of their choice. The state legislature failed to take action, and a federal court drew a map that shifted most of Birmingham's black residents to the 7th District.
To make up for the loss in population, the 6th was redrawn to take in several whiter and wealthier areas of Shelby and Tuscaloosa counties, areas which Erdreich had never previously represented. Erdreich now found himself in a mostly suburban district that was almost 97 percent white, and was on paper one of the most Republican districts in the country. By comparison, his old district was urban in character, with more liberal Democratic voters, and approximately 35 percent black.
Erdreich outspent his opponent, state Republican Party chairman Spencer Bachus, almost 2 to 1, but could not overcome the more conservative hue of his new district and lost by seven percentage points. In the same election, George H. W. Bush prevailed over challenger Bill Clinton in the district by about 74 percent to 26 percent, demonstrating its conservative character. Further demonstrating just how Republican this district was, Erdreich is the last Democrat to cross the 40 percent mark in this district, and only one Democratic challenger has garnered even 30 percent since Erdreich left office.
Erdreich was known for his bipartisan work in Congress, and co-sponsored several hundred bills during his five terms.
He was the lead sponsor of four bills that were signed by the president and enacted into law:
1987, H.R. 614Archived 2016-04-08 at the Wayback Machine, A bill to designate the new United States courthouse in Birmingham, Alabama, as the "Hugo L. Black United States Courthouse" (co-sponsored by the entire Alabama congressional delegation).
1990, H.R. 3691Archived 2008-12-02 at the Wayback Machine, to redesignate the Federal building located at 1800 5th Avenue, North in Birmingham, Alabama, as the "Robert S. Vance Federal Building" (co-sponsored by the entire Alabama congressional delegation and several others).
1990, H.R. 1243Archived 2008-12-02 at the Wayback Machine, The Department of Energy Metal Casting Competitiveness Research Act of 1990, co-sponsored by the entire Alabama congressional delegation and several others.
1992, H.R.4398Archived 2016-04-08 at the Wayback Machine, The Federal Reserve Bank Branch Modernization Act, with no co-sponsors.
Recent life and career
Erdreich is currently involved with property development in Birmingham, concentrating on central-city projects.
