A federal court on Tuesday blocked Alabama Republicans from using a newly proposed congressional map that critics argued would weaken Black voting power and likely strengthen GOP positioning ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
The ruling means Alabama will continue using the court-ordered congressional map that created a second majority-Black or near-majority-Black district — at least for now. That map helped Democrats flip the district now represented by Shomari Figures in 2024.
Supreme Court Ruling Reignited the Fight
The legal battle escalated earlier this month after the Supreme Court of the United States vacated earlier lower-court rulings against Alabama’s 2023 GOP-backed map and instructed lower courts to reconsider the dispute under a newer legal standard tied to a separate Louisiana redistricting case.
Alabama Republicans moved quickly afterward to attempt restoring the earlier map, which would reduce the number of Black-opportunity districts from two to one and improve Republican chances of reclaiming the Democratic-held seat.
Federal Panel Keeps Current Map in Place
However, the three-judge federal panel ruled that altering district boundaries so close to the upcoming election cycle could create voter confusion and administrative disruption.
In its ruling, the court said it could not justify allowing Alabama voters to cast ballots in the 2026 elections under a congressional map the panel said was shaped by intentional racial discrimination.
“Ultimately, 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,” the court wrote.
The panel issued a preliminary injunction preserving the current congressional lines while litigation continues.
Broader Southern Redistricting Battles Continue
The case now appears likely headed back toward the Supreme Court as Republicans across several Southern states continue pursuing mid-decade redistricting efforts that could significantly reshape control of the United States House of Representatives.
This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
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