Alabama Redistricting Gets High Court OK, Sparks Fierce Debate
The 6-3 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court that Alabama can redistrict without using race as a deciding factor is being derided by Democrats and minorities in the state as blatant racism. Birmingham Democrat State Rep. Juandalynn Givan alleges the court ruling and the state GOP's plans are, "about white supremacy at its best."
The redistricting is expected to increase GOP representation and reduce the state's majority-minority districts from two to one.
West Alabama Democrat Congresswoman Terri Sewell's 7th Congressional District is thought to be safe but that has not stopped her criticism of the ruling and the state GOP's rush to redraw voting lines. She is calling it, "...a stunning departure from legal precedence and an attack on black voters."
First term, 2nd District Democrat Congressman Shomari Figures, won election due to a court ordered map that created two majority-minority districts. He is now expected to be the odd man out in redistricting.
“This is an incredibly unfortunate decision by the Supreme Court that not only continues their trend of breaking from the norms and precedents set by the Court, but also sets the stage for Alabama to go back to the 1950s and 60s in terms of Black political representation in the state," Rep. Figures posted on social media.
He continued with a vow, "I ran for this seat to be a voice for all of Alabama, and I’m not backing down from that mission now. The fight must and will go on.
"Beyond the courts, we know what has to be done. We will organize, we will register, and we will turnout people in record numbers at the polls.”
Republicans like Attorney General Steve Marshall claims redistricting is political, not racial. “For too long, unelected federal judges have had more say over Alabama’s elections than Alabama voters. That ended today,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Marshall's plan is for the legislature to make every congressional district in the state a majority Republican district.
Secretary of State Wes Allen, whose office oversees state elections, wrote, “Today, the Supreme Court granted my motion in a historic win for Alabama voters. The May 19 Primary Election will proceed as scheduled. My office will remain in close contact with Governor’s Office as this situation continues developing."
The recent Alabama Legislative special session enacted a law allowing it to void the results of next week's primaries for some congressional districts and instead hold a new primary under the revised district boundaries. Gov. Kay Ivey will set a date for a special primary election, though it must occur by August to be legal under Alabama law.
Alabama is one of several states new congressional district boundaries before the November elections as part of a nationwide redistricting battle urged by President Trump.
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