Alabama officials asked the Supreme Court of the United States on Friday to allow the state to use a new congressional map for the upcoming midterm elections, a move that could improve Republican chances of flipping a Democratic-held seat.
In a series of emergency filings, state officials argued that Alabama should be allowed to abandon its current map following the Supreme Court’s recent decision striking down some of Louisiana’s congressional districts that were drawn specifically to create majority black representation under Section II of the Voting Rights Act, The New York Times reported.
The high court ruled basing congressional districts solely on race is unconstitutional, and as such, districts throughout the South will have to be redrawn.
Alabama’s current map contains two majority-black congressional districts, both represented by Democrats. State Republicans are seeking to return to a previously blocked map that would contain only one majority-minority district.
“Alabama’s case mirrors Louisiana’s, and they should end the same way,” state officials wrote in court filings. “With this year’s elections run with districts based on lawful policy goals, not race.”
The request follows the Supreme Court’s April 29 ruling in a Louisiana redistricting case that found a majority-Black district violated the Constitution’s equal protection clause as an illegal racial gerrymander.
The decision has triggered renewed redistricting battles across several Southern states as lawmakers reassess maps previously shaped by interpretations of the Voting Rights Act.
Republican-led states argue the court’s ruling gives them greater flexibility to redraw districts using political considerations rather than race. Civil rights advocates, meanwhile, warn the changes could weaken minority representation in Congress.
Alabama lawmakers are currently restricted by lower federal court rulings from implementing new district maps until after the 2030 census. State officials are now asking the Supreme Court to intervene before primary voting begins later this month.
The justices ordered the coalition of voters challenging Alabama’s maps to respond by May 11. Alabama officials requested a ruling by May 14 ahead of in-person voting scheduled to begin May 19.
Just Remember, Hakeem asked for it, FAFO! Supreme Court has just been asked by the Red state of Alabama to THROW OUT their current Congressional map that contains 2 racially cheated in seats
The new map would be at least R+1 gains! pic.twitter.com/T0s4dO0cnI
— Johnny Midnight ⚡️ (@its_The_Dr) May 8, 2026
Homey smokes!
The Supreme Court just ORDERED Alabama to throw out their racially biased district map and redraw it without the racist districts.
Judge Clarence Thomas wants Alabama to respond by Monday at 5 pm.
HeII YEAH.
— Mila Joy (@Milajoy) May 8, 2026
Gov. Kay Ivey signed legislation Friday that could authorize new House primary elections if the Supreme Court allows revised maps to move forward.
“Alabama knows our state, our people and our districts best,” Ivey said in a statement.
The legal dispute stems from a years-long battle over Alabama’s congressional boundaries. In 2023, federal courts ordered the state to create a second district with a substantial Black voting population after finding the prior map likely violated the Voting Rights Act.
Instead, lawmakers approved a plan increasing the Black voting-age population in one district to roughly 40 percent. Federal judges rejected that proposal and appointed a special master to draw a replacement map.
The resulting map created a second majority-black district stretching from Montgomery to portions of Mobile along the Gulf Coast. Democrat Shomari Figures won the district, flipping it from Republican control.
“It’s not about the politics. It’s not about the race,” Figures told lawmakers Thursday. “It was about bringing a voice to people and communities” that historically lacked representation.
The Supreme Court’s ruling, however, does not take votes or representation away from anyone.
Other Southern states are also moving quickly following the Louisiana ruling. Tennessee lawmakers approved a new congressional map this week, affecting the district that includes Memphis, the state’s only Democratic-held seat.
In South Carolina, Republican lawmakers are considering redistricting efforts that could affect the district represented by longtime Democratic Congressman James Clyburn.
This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
