BREAKING: U.S. Supreme Court Backs Alabama Redistricting
The United State Supreme Court (SCOTUS) has not unexpectedly handed the Republican controlled State of Alabama a major victory in its emergency appeal to remap four Alabama Congressional Districts. The conservative majority on the high court overruled last week's judgement by a North Alabama three judge federal panel that the 2023 map the state wants to use in an August 11th special election discriminates against black voters.
Districts 1, 2, 4, and West Alabama's 7th will now see the results of the May 19th party primaries voided, with the special election determining nominees for the November General Elections.
The return to the 2023 map will squeeze out District 2 Democrat Congressman Shomari Figures, leaving 7th District Democrat Congresswoman Terri Sewell representing the only majority-minority district in the state. The justice's decision effectively gives President Trump another Republican house seat in his fight to retain control of congress this fall.
The ruling comes just in time for Wednesday's deadline for Secretary of State Wes Allen to certify the names of opposed congressional candidates to probate judges. Gov. Ivey had issued the five-day extension in hopes of a positive ruling from the high court.
The Legislature authorized the special elections through controversial House Bill1 and Senate Bill 1 during a special session. The action sparked heated debate between Republicans and Democrats in both chambers and led to public protests reminiscent of the demonstrations and marches in Selma and Montgomery that led to congressional passage of the Voting Right Act of 1965.
Alabama is not the only state attempting to take advantage of a SCOTUS ruling earlier this year that determined Louisiana cannot use race as a deciding factor in designing congressional district maps. Several other GOP dominate states are doing the same at the urging of Trump.
The National Republican Congressional Committee also submitted an amicus brief Monday in support of Alabama’s request for an emergency stay. The Department of Justice did the same last week
Opposition to the state's redistricting plan had told the high court in a filing that “Granting Alabama’s request would insert the Court into an ongoing election in a manner that upsets settled expectations, causes voter confusion, and creates chaos and unworkable deadlines for even the most diligent election officials,”
Voting Rights activists have vowed a reactivation of the 1960s movement to push for passage of the John Lewis Voting Rights Act sponsored by Rep. Sewell.
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