Federal court blocks Alabama plan for new congressional districts that could help Republicans

A federal three-judge panel in Alabama blocked the state’s new congressional map on Tuesday, citing intentional racial discrimination. The Republican-drawn plan, which would have created only one Black-majority district, was ruled unlawful under the Voting Rights Act. Instead, the court ordered Alabama to use a previously approved map with two districts where Black voters hold a majority or near-majority for the 2026 elections. The ruling reverses Alabama’s attempt to implement a map that could have helped Republicans reclaim a U.S. House seat currently held by Democratic Rep. Shomari Figures. Figures welcomed the decision but acknowledged the legal battle may continue, as state officials plan to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. The case follows the Supreme Court’s recent decision in a Louisiana redistricting case, which weakened federal protections for minority voting rights. Alabama’s Republican leaders had sought to reshape districts after the ruling, but the judges found ‘undisputed evidence’ of intentional racial discrimination in the state’s new map. The panel also noted that switching maps now would cause voter confusion and logistical challenges. The court’s decision requires Alabama to use the same districts as the 2024 elections, preventing a costly and disruptive voter reassignment process. Governor Kay Ivey had previously set August 11 special primaries under the contested map, but those elections will now proceed under the court-ordered districts. This ruling is part of a broader legal and political struggle over redistricting in Southern states, where Republicans have sought to reduce the influence of minority voters in congressional races. The Supreme Court’s earlier decision in Louisiana emboldened similar efforts in Alabama and other states, but the federal panel rejected those claims, reinforcing protections for minority voting rights.