Alabama asks Supreme Court to allow new midterm voting map
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 8
Alabama asks Supreme Court to allow new midterm voting map
7 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 8
In emergency filings on Friday, state officials sought to replace a map with two majority-Black congressional districts, both currently represented by Democrats.
They argued Alabama's case mirrors Louisiana after the court's 29 April ruling struck down a majority-Black district there as an unconstitutional racial gerrymander.
The request comes amid a wider redistricting fight as Republican-led Southern states revisit lines that could improve GOP chances in districts long held by Democrats.
When does creating a district to empower minority voters cross into unconstitutional territory?
After recent rulings, what power does the Voting Rights Act still hold to protect voters?
Alabama’s Special Session Redraws Maps to Reduce Black Voting Power Before Midterms
Overview
In May 2026, Governor Kay Ivey called a special session prompting Alabama's Republican legislature to swiftly approve a new congressional map that cracks the 2nd District and packs the 7th, aiming to eliminate two Black-held seats. This move defied the 2023 Supreme Court ruling in Allen v. Milligan, which had protected Black voting power, but was emboldened by the 2026 Louisiana v. Callais decision requiring proof of intentional discrimination, raising the legal bar for challenges. The plan threatens to flip Alabama’s delegation fully Republican and sparked protests recalling historic civil rights struggles. Similar tactics are spreading across Southern states, signaling a coordinated effort to diminish Black political influence under weakened Voting Rights Act protections.