Civil Rights Groups Vow Continued Legal Fight Against Alabama Map
Civil rights groups vow sustained legal resistance to Alabama's redistricting map despite Supreme Court approval.
Event / Politics
Alabama Congressional Redistricting
Supreme Court and legal challenges regarding Alabama's congressional map affecting minority representation and voting rights in the 2026 midterm elections.
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2026-08-17 to 2026-11-14 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 3 Jun, 17:05 UTC
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What happened
NAACP Legal Defense Fund vows to continue fighting the redistricting decision
Deuel Ross, director of litigation for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, criticized the Supreme Court's decision as giving cover to discriminate against Black voters without consequence. The organization pledged to continue deploying resources to ensure Alabama voters have fair representation.
Lower court had ordered Alabama to use 2024 map with two majority-Black districts
A three-judge federal panel previously blocked Alabama's 2023 map and ordered the state to continue using a court-drawn map from 2024 that contained two districts where Black voters constituted a majority or had an opportunity to elect candidates of their choice. This court-approved map led to the election of U.S. Representative Shomari Figures, a Black Democrat, in 2024.
Supreme Court allows Alabama to use 2023 congressional map favoring Republicans
The U.S. Supreme Court issued an emergency order on Tuesday allowing Alabama to use a congressional map adopted in 2023 that contains only one majority-Black district out of seven total districts. The map is expected to give Republicans an opportunity to gain an additional congressional seat. The decision came after the Supreme Court's conservative majority voted 6-3 to lift a lower court injunction that had blocked the map's use.
Three liberal justices dissent from Supreme Court redistricting decision
Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented from the Supreme Court's majority decision. In her dissent, Justice Sotomayor argued that the map discriminates against Black Alabamians and criticized the majority for rewarding Alabama's defiance of previous court orders and creating a chaotic election.
Alabama governor confirms August 11 special primary elections under new map
Republican Governor Kay Ivey confirmed that Alabama's August 11 special primary elections would be conducted under the 2023 congressional map following the Supreme Court's decision. The special primaries affect four congressional districts where district lines would change under the new map.
Supreme Court allows Alabama to use GOP-favoring congressional map
The Supreme Court granted Alabama's emergency appeal on Tuesday to use a congressional redistricting map adopted three years ago that contains a majority-Black population in only one of the state's seven congressional districts. The decision overrode a lower court ruling that found the redistricting plan intentionally discriminates against Black voters. The three liberal justices dissented from the order.
Court-drawn map in 2024 elections elected two Black Democratic representatives
Under a court-ordered congressional map used in Alabama's 2024 elections, two Black Democratic representatives were elected to Congress, including U.S. Representative Shomari Figures. This map provided a majority or near-majority Black population in two of Alabama's seven congressional districts.
Alabama to hold special primary elections in August under new map
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey confirmed that the state will use the Supreme Court-approved congressional map in special primary elections scheduled for August 11 in four congressional districts affected by the redistricting change.
NAACP Legal Defense Fund vows to continue legal challenge
Deuel Ross, director of litigation for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, stated that the Supreme Court's decision gives cover to discrimination against Black voters and announced the fund will continue to use all its resources to fight for fair representation for Alabama voters.
Three-judge panel reaffirms finding of intentional racial discrimination in Alabama map
Upon further review, a three-judge judicial panel reaffirmed its initial finding that there was undisputed evidence of intentional racial discrimination in Alabama's proposed congressional map and recommended that special primary elections proceed under the previously court-approved districts.
Lower court previously ruled Alabama map intentionally discriminates against Black voters
In 2023, a three-judge panel ruled that a congressional map drawn by Alabama Republican state lawmakers intentionally diluted the voting power of Black citizens. The court determined that Alabama, which is approximately 27% Black, should have two districts where Black voters constitute a majority or near-majority population.
Supreme Court weakens Voting Rights Act in Louisiana redistricting case
In April, the Supreme Court struck down a Black-majority district in Louisiana and weakened the federal Voting Rights Act by raising the bar for racial discrimination claims, requiring groups to show a strong inference of intentional discrimination before proceeding with a lawsuit.
Republican governors in Southern states reshape voting districts following Supreme Court ruling
Following the Supreme Court's April ruling weakening the Voting Rights Act, Republican officials in several Southern states, including Alabama, took steps to reshape congressional voting districts with large minority populations that have elected Democrats.
Justice Sotomayor dissents, citing chaotic election under discriminatory map
Justice Sonia Sotomayor dissented from the Supreme Court majority, arguing that the decision enables a chaotic election under a never-before-used congressional map that intentionally discriminates against Black Alabamians.
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2 alternative perspectives
Alabama Sets August 11 Special Primary Elections Under New Congressional Map
Alabama sets August 11 special primary elections under the redistricting map reducing Black representation.
Supreme Court Upholds Alabama Map Over Lower Court's Discrimination Finding
Supreme Court allows Alabama's 2023 map favoring Republicans despite lower court discrimination findings.
Civil Rights Groups Pursue Legal Challenge to Alabama Redistricting Map
Civil rights groups press legal challenges as Republican-led states reshape voting districts under new Supreme Court guidance.
Alabama's New Map Reduces Black Representation Despite Court Findings
Alabama's new redistricting map reduces Black Democratic congressional seats from two to one.
Supreme Court Allows Alabama Map Despite Discrimination Finding
Supreme Court permits Alabama's map despite court-confirmed discrimination against Black voters.