Alabama asks Supreme Court to allow for redrawn congressional map
Alabama officials filed a trio of petitions to the Supreme Court on Friday asking the justices to clear the way for the state to implement a redrawn congressional map ahead of the 2026 election.
TL;DR
- Alabama has petitioned the Supreme Court to allow its 2023 congressional map to take effect.
- A lower court had previously ordered a second black-majority congressional district, which Alabama argues violates the Voting Rights Act and a recent Supreme Court ruling.
- The state's 2023 map features one black-majority district, resulting in a 6-1 Republican-Democrat split of congressional seats.
- The lower court's order created a second black-majority district, leading to a 5-2 Republican-Democrat split.
- Alabama's Attorney General argues the state's map was based on lawful policy goals, not race, and that the lower court's decision was erroneous.
- The petitions request a ruling by May 14, ahead of the state's May 19 primary elections.
- This action follows similar redistricting efforts in other GOP-led states after a recent Supreme Court ruling on racial gerrymandering.
- Virginia Democrats faced a setback as their state Supreme Court voided a redistricting referendum, which they plan to appeal.