A federal court has blocked Alabama’s proposed new congressional map, alleging racial discrimination against black voters, with the state likely to appeal the decision. The ruling comes after a panel of federal judges determined that Alabama’s attempt to implement a redistricted congressional map discriminates against Black voters.
The state had moved to eliminate a Democrat-leaning, black-majority district mandated under the Voting Rights Act following the Supreme Court’s determination that such racial gerrymandering is unconstitutional. This decision intensifies uncertainty in the South’s electoral landscape as Republican-led states rapidly redraw district lines after the Supreme Court struck down key provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Alabama Governor Kay Ivey (R) has already scheduled special primaries in four affected House districts, signaling her state’s intent to challenge Tuesday’s ruling.
In their decision, the judges stated: “We cannot see our way clear to requiring Alabamians to cast their votes in the 2026 elections under a districting plan tainted by intentional race-based discrimination.”
