Supreme Court Lets Alabama Use 2023 House Map in 6-3 Ruling as GOP Eyes 1 Seat
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jun 3
Supreme Court Lets Alabama Use 2023 House Map in 6-3 Ruling as GOP Eyes 1 Seat
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 3
A 6-3 emergency order let Alabama use its 2023 congressional map for this election cycle, replacing a court-drawn plan that had supported the election of a Black Democrat.
The unsigned majority said Alabama showed irreparable harm and cited the risk of changing election rules too close to voting, with the state's Aug. 11 special primary now set to proceed under the 2023 map.
That map contains 1 majority-Black district instead of the 2 districts in the lower court's remedial plan where Black voters were a majority or could elect preferred candidates.
Justice Sonia Sotomayor, joined by the other two liberals, said the map intentionally discriminates against Black Alabamians and would force officials to reassign hundreds of thousands of voters on short notice.
The ruling follows the court's recent Callais decision limiting the use of race in redistricting, a shift Republicans hope can help them redraw maps and gain seats ahead of November.
As federal voting protections change, what role will state courts now play in redistricting?
How can discriminatory maps be challenged now that courts require proving intentional bias?
What does the rise of emergency court orders mean for the future of election law?
After Supreme Court’s 2026 Decision, Section 2 of Voting Rights Act Gutted: Alabama, Louisiana, and the New Era of Racial Gerrymandering
Overview
In May 2026, the Supreme Court's earlier decision in Louisiana v. Callais weakened Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act by requiring proof of intent to discriminate when challenging congressional maps. Following this, the Court ordered a federal panel to reconsider its ruling on Alabama's 2023 congressional map. The panel then blocked Alabama from using the map, finding it racially discriminatory and designed to benefit Republicans. Alabama quickly appealed, seeking to use the map for upcoming elections. These events highlight how the new legal standard makes it harder to challenge potentially discriminatory maps, reshaping the political landscape and representation in Alabama and beyond.