Court blocks Alabama congressional map, saying state intentionally discriminated by race

Updated on: May 26, 2026 / 2:18 PM EDT / CBS News

Court blocks Alabama congressional map, saying state intentionally discriminated by race

TL;DR

  • A federal district court has blocked Alabama's 2023 congressional map, citing racial discrimination.
  • The court ordered the state to use a court-selected map with two majority-Black districts instead.
  • Judges found the GOP-led legislature's map intentionally discriminated based on race, violating the 14th Amendment.
  • State officials are appealing the decision to the Supreme Court.
  • The court acknowledged the rarity of its ruling but found the issue clear given the record.
  • This decision is part of an ongoing legal battle over Alabama's congressional map following a Supreme Court ruling on the Voting Rights Act.
  • Republicans had hoped the 2023 map would help them flip a Democratic seat.
  • House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries accused Republicans of a "desperate power grab" through redistricting.