Alabama's GOP Gerrymander Approved by Roberts Court in 6-3 Partisan Vote

The U.S. Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice John Roberts, approved Alabama’s gerrymandered congressional map for the 2026 midterms in a 6-3 partisan vote on Monday. The decision disregards prior rulings and undermines Black representation, raising concerns about the court’s political bias.

The move follows the court’s recent dismantling of the Voting Rights Act in Louisiana v. Callais, signaling a broader trend of enabling racial and partisan gerrymandering. Alabama’s new map, which reduces Black representation from two majority-Black districts to one, was previously rejected by the court in Allen v. Milligan just three years ago.

Key details of the decision:

• The court’s 6-3 order, split along partisan lines, allows Alabama to use a gerrymandered map that diminishes Black voting power.
• Black voters, who make up 27% of Alabama’s population, will now have the ability to elect their preferred candidate in only one of the state’s seven congressional districts.
• The court’s intervention comes after Alabama Republicans vowed to eliminate both majority-Black districts, despite the state’s pivotal role in the civil rights movement.
• The decision leaves open the possibility of a 7-0 map in future elections, further marginalizing Black representation.

Legal experts and advocates have condemned the ruling as a blatant display of partisan bias.

“There’s something bizarre going on with the court making choices that seem to very heavily benefit one party.”

“The rank disrespect of the Chief Justice coming out and warning people that they shouldn’t assume that the court is partisan tests basic credulity.”

Chief Justice Roberts has repeatedly asserted that the court is not a political entity, yet the latest intervention contradicts this claim. The decision not only disregards precedent but also sets a dangerous precedent for future gerrymandering efforts by Republican-controlled states.

Alabama’s history of civil rights struggles, including the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the Freedom Rides, the Birmingham church bombing, and Bloody Sunday in Selma, underscores the significance of the court’s decision. The ruling effectively erases Black representation in Congress from a state that played a central role in the fight for racial equality.