A three-judge panel on Tuesday blocked a Republican-drawn congressional map in Alabama from going into effect, writing that the district lines \u201cintentionally discriminated based on race in violation of the Constitution.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u201cWe 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,\u201d the panel of federal judges wrote. <\/p>\n
The decision is a setback for Republicans, who sought to enact the map after a major redistricting ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court last month. The map would eliminate one of Alabama\u2019s two majority-minority districts, putting the GOP in position to gain a seat in this year\u2019s midterm elections. <\/p>\n
Alabama is expected to appeal the ruling. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey scheduled a second primary date in August for the districts affected by the Republican-drawn map. Other primaries were were held in the state on May 19.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Legislature well knew that a plan without an additional Black-opportunity district would dilute Black Alabamians\u2019 opportunity to participate in the political process, and it intentionally enacted that very plan,\u201d the panel wrote. \u201cFurther, the Legislature well knew what dilutive mechanisms would prevent Black voters in Alabama\u2019s Black Belt and Gulf Coast communities from having any opportunity to elect representatives of their choice, and the Legislature employed precisely those mechanisms.\u201d<\/p>\n
The state has spent years feuding with the courts over its congressional map. <\/p>\n