By — Mark Sherman, Associated Press Mark Sherman, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/alabama-asks-supreme-court-to-allow-use-of-congressional-map-helping-gop-despite-racial-bias-ruling Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Alabama asks Supreme Court to allow use of congressional map helping GOP, despite racial bias ruling Politics May 27, 2026 2:04 PM EDT WASHINGTON (AP) — Alabama on Wednesday asked the Supreme Court to allow it to use a congressional map favoring Republicans in this year's elections, despite a lower court's ruling that the redistricting plan intentionally discriminates against Black people. READ MORE: Federal court blocks Alabama plan for new congressional districts that could help Republicans The state's Republican leadership filed an emergency appeal with the justices a day after a three-judge court refused to let the state use a map it adopted three years ago that has a majority Black population in just one of its seven congressional districts. The judges instead required Alabama to continue using a court-ordered map that was put in place for the 2024 elections that includes two districts where Black residents comprise a majority or close to it. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Enter your email address Subscribe Form error message goes here. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. Attorney General Steve Marshall told the court that the state did not intentionally discriminate against Black residents and should be allowed to hold elections this year under a map chosen by lawmakers, not judges. The appeal is the latest development in the fallout from last month's Supreme Court ruling that struck down a Black-majority district in Louisiana and weakened the federal Voting Rights Act. That ruling has led Republicans in several Southern states, including Alabama, to take steps to reshape voting districts with large minority populations that have elected Democrats. READ MORE: Midterm redistricting has placed millions in new voting districts. Here's where 6 state efforts stand The redistricting frenzy is part of a broader push by President Donald Trump to try to hold on to Republicans' slim House majority in the November elections. The Alabama cases stretches back several years. The three-judge panel in 2023 ruled that a map drawn by Republican state lawmakers intentionally diluted the voting power of Black citizens. The court said the state, which is about 27% Black, should have two districts where Black voters are the majority or close to it. The court-selected map was used in 2024. After the Supreme Court's recent ruling in the Louisiana case, Alabama officials moved to implement the 2023 state-drawn map. The Supreme Court's conservative majority agreed to lift the injunction that had blocked the map's use and sent the case back to the three-judge panel for reconsideration in light of the Louisiana ruling. In the meantime, voters cast ballots in Alabama's May 11 primaries, and Republican Gov. Kay Ivey set new special primaries for Aug. 11 in four congressional districts affected by the map switch. READ MORE: Rep. Christian Menefee defeats Rep. Al Green in primary runoff fueled by redistricting Upon further review, the judicial panel said it was standing behind its initial finding that there was "undisputed evidence" of intentional racial discrimination, a holding that was independent of and unaffected by the Supreme Court ruling on the Voting Rights Act. It said the special congressional primaries should instead proceed under the previous court-approved districts. The use of the court-ordered map led to the 2024 election of U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures, a Black Democrat. State Republicans are seeking to use a map that would give the GOP an opportunity to reclaim the south Alabama seat. Associated Press writer Kim Chandler contributed to this report from Montgomery, Ala. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now By — Mark Sherman, Associated Press Mark Sherman, Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Alabama on Wednesday asked the Supreme Court to allow it to use a congressional map favoring Republicans in this year's elections, despite a lower court's ruling that the redistricting plan intentionally discriminates against Black people. READ MORE: Federal court blocks Alabama plan for new congressional districts that could help Republicans The state's Republican leadership filed an emergency appeal with the justices a day after a three-judge court refused to let the state use a map it adopted three years ago that has a majority Black population in just one of its seven congressional districts. The judges instead required Alabama to continue using a court-ordered map that was put in place for the 2024 elections that includes two districts where Black residents comprise a majority or close to it. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Enter your email address Subscribe Form error message goes here. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. Attorney General Steve Marshall told the court that the state did not intentionally discriminate against Black residents and should be allowed to hold elections this year under a map chosen by lawmakers, not judges. The appeal is the latest development in the fallout from last month's Supreme Court ruling that struck down a Black-majority district in Louisiana and weakened the federal Voting Rights Act. That ruling has led Republicans in several Southern states, including Alabama, to take steps to reshape voting districts with large minority populations that have elected Democrats. READ MORE: Midterm redistricting has placed millions in new voting districts. Here's where 6 state efforts stand The redistricting frenzy is part of a broader push by President Donald Trump to try to hold on to Republicans' slim House majority in the November elections. The Alabama cases stretches back several years. The three-judge panel in 2023 ruled that a map drawn by Republican state lawmakers intentionally diluted the voting power of Black citizens. The court said the state, which is about 27% Black, should have two districts where Black voters are the majority or close to it. The court-selected map was used in 2024. After the Supreme Court's recent ruling in the Louisiana case, Alabama officials moved to implement the 2023 state-drawn map. The Supreme Court's conservative majority agreed to lift the injunction that had blocked the map's use and sent the case back to the three-judge panel for reconsideration in light of the Louisiana ruling. In the meantime, voters cast ballots in Alabama's May 11 primaries, and Republican Gov. Kay Ivey set new special primaries for Aug. 11 in four congressional districts affected by the map switch. READ MORE: Rep. Christian Menefee defeats Rep. Al Green in primary runoff fueled by redistricting Upon further review, the judicial panel said it was standing behind its initial finding that there was "undisputed evidence" of intentional racial discrimination, a holding that was independent of and unaffected by the Supreme Court ruling on the Voting Rights Act. It said the special congressional primaries should instead proceed under the previous court-approved districts. The use of the court-ordered map led to the 2024 election of U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures, a Black Democrat. State Republicans are seeking to use a map that would give the GOP an opportunity to reclaim the south Alabama seat. Associated Press writer Kim Chandler contributed to this report from Montgomery, Ala. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now