Alabama Advances Redistricting Plan to Eliminate Democratic Representation After Supreme Court Ruling

Alabama Republicans Push Redistricting Plan After Supreme Court Weakens Voting Rights Act

Alabama is moving forward with a redistricting plan that critics call racist, following a Supreme Court decision that significantly weakened the Voting Rights Act. Republican Governor Kay Ivey announced on Friday that she will convene a special legislative session next week to pass new congressional and state senate maps and prepare for special primary elections.

This comes one day after Alabama’s Attorney General Steve Marshall petitioned the Supreme Court to allow the state to implement new maps redrawn in 2023, which had previously been blocked under the Voting Rights Act.

Supreme Court Decision Paves Way for Partisan Gerrymandering

In its Wednesday decision in Louisiana v. Callais, the Supreme Court’s six-justice conservative majority effectively dismantled Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which prohibits racial discrimination in voting. While the decision did not eliminate Section 2 entirely, it raised new legal barriers for challenging racial gerrymandering while permitting partisan gerrymandering as a defense.

Impact on Alabama’s Black-Majority Districts

The new maps would redraw Alabama’s two Black-majority congressional districts:

• Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District, represented by Rep. Shamari Figures, includes Mobile and Montgomery. The Black population in this district would drop from 49% to 40%, according to the Alabama Reflector.
• Alabama’s 7th Congressional District, represented by Rep. Terri Sewell, is the state’s oldest majority-Black district and has elected Black Democrats to Congress since 1993. It includes Selma, Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, and Montgomery.

Right-Wing Figures Celebrate Potential Republican Sweep

CJ Pearson, a right-wing influencer, celebrated the move on X (formerly Twitter), writing:

"This decision will likely lead to a COMPLETELY REPUBLICAN DELEGATION!"

What’s Next for Alabama’s Redistricting Battle

The special legislative session next week will focus on finalizing the new maps and setting the stage for special elections. Critics argue the plan undermines Black political representation in Alabama, while supporters claim it aligns with the Supreme Court’s new interpretation of voting rights law.