Federal judges blocked Alabama Republicans’ plan to install a new congressional map that would eliminate one of two remaining Democratic-leaning districts.
The current congressional map has five Republican seats and two Democratic seats, the latter due to the former-mandated two majority-black districts. Republicans had hoped to install a new map to eliminate one of these seats, but a three-judge panel blocked the effort.
The panel ruled that the new map “represents an intentional effort to crack the Black population in Alabama.”
The ruling requires Alabama to draw new congressional districts it deems not discriminatory.
“Ultimately, we cannot see our way clear to requiring Alabamians to cast their votes in the 2026 elections under a districting plan tainted by intentional race-based discrimination,” the panel wrote.
It’s likely the ruling will be appealed and the case will head to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Alabama Republicans have long sought to establish a 6-1 Republican-Democratic balance of congressional districts, but were blocked by courts upholding the old interpretation of the Voting Rights Act. April’s Louisiana v. Callais Supreme Court ruling raised the bar for when Section 2 of the VRA can be used for race-based redistricting.
The Supreme Court then vacated Louisiana’s newest court-mandated map, allowing use of a 2023 map with six Republican-favored districts.
The move last month was celebrated by Republicans as a major win, and has led to many renewed redistricting efforts across the south.
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“I will continue to say: Alabama knows our state, our people and our districts best. The United States Supreme Court’s decision is plain common sense and enables our values to be best represented in Congress,” Gov. Kay Ivey (R-AL) said earlier this month. “For years, we have fought for this outcome, and I am proud to celebrate this win for Alabamians.”
When the new map was signed into law, state primaries were already under way so Democrats and voting rights activists protested the move. Votes for House seats that were already sent in were rendered null, and a new special primary election was set for Aug. 11.