Supreme Court Lets Alabama Use 2023 GOP Map for 2026, Likely Shifting 1 House Seat
Updated
Updated · CNN · Jun 3
Supreme Court Lets Alabama Use 2023 GOP Map for 2026, Likely Shifting 1 House Seat
3 articles · Updated · CNN · Jun 3
An unsigned 6-3 order let Alabama scrap the court-drawn map used in 2024 and run its 2026 elections under a Republican-backed plan with only one majority-Black district.
The majority said lower courts intervened too close to an imminent election, invoking the Purcell principle even though Alabama had already held primaries and may now need August special elections.
That switch likely leaves Alabama with a 6-1 Republican House delegation next year by putting Democratic Rep. Shomari Figures' 2nd District at risk while preserving Rep. Terri Sewell's 7th.
Justice Sonia Sotomayor, joined by the other two liberals, said the court was rewarding a map lower judges again found intentionally discriminatory against Black voters.
The ruling extends the court's post-April retreat on Voting Rights Act enforcement, after a 6-3 decision raised the bar for racial-bias claims and prompted Southern states to redraw maps.
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.