Supreme Court lets Alabama use House map that favors GOP in midterms

Washington — The Supreme Court on Tuesday cleared the way for Alabama to use a congressional map that is more favorable to Republicans in this year’s midterm elections, despite a lower court finding that the plan intentionally discriminated against Black voters.

In a divided order, the high court agreed to freeze the district court decision that prevented the state from using the map drawn by Republicans in 2023, which included one majority-Black congressional district out of Alabama’s seven. The lower court had found that Alabama intentionally discriminated against Black voters when it crafted those House district lines three years ago.

The lower court judges instead ordered the state to keep using a court-selected congressional map, which was in place for the 2024 elections, that includes two districts where Black voters have the opportunity to elect their preferred candidates. Under that map, the state’s seven-member congressional delegation is divided between five Republicans and two Democrats.

Now, under the 2023 plan that Alabama can swap in as a result of the Supreme Court’s order, which reconfigures the district currently represented by Democratic Rep. Shomari Figures, Republicans are likely to be favored 6-1. A special primary for four House seats altered by the 2023 map is set for Aug. 11. Primaries for the other three districts were held May 19.

This is a breaking story; it will be updated.