Shomari Figures

For years, Alabama’s congressional districts have been debated and fought over, as Democrats and Republicans wrangle over who can send representatives to Congress.

Currently, the state’s seven districts are represented by five Republicans and two Democrats, to Republicans’ frustration.

“We are bright red state, and our congressional map should show it,” Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth posted on X Thursday.

A bombshell Supreme Court ruling April 29, focused on Louisiana congressional districts, could change Alabama’s voting maps and the balance of power in Congress -- but not immediately.

Despite calls for a special session, Gov. Kay Ivey said she would not ask the legislature to redraw maps this year. Current districts could stand until 2030, after the next U.S. Census.

2026 elections

Alabama’s 2026 elections -- and current ballots and candidates -- will proceed as planned.

Primaries will take place May 19. The general election is Nov. 3.

Does the Supreme Court decision impact Alabama?

Not directly -- but the ruling overall rolls back civil rights protections originally set in place in 1965 to help Black voters elect Black candidates to office.

In Louisiana v. Callais, the Supreme Court decided that the state should not have drawn two majority-Black districts. Justices agreed that Louisiana white voters were discriminated against.

But the decision doesn’t directly impact Alabama’s current maps.

In the Callais decision, Supreme Court justices made it clear that the issues they considered in Louisiana are different from those in recent Alabama legal cases.

In 2023, the Supreme Court decided in Allen v. Milligan that a new, legislative-drawn map violated the Voting Rights Act. That decision led to Alabama’s current map, which sent two Black officials from the state to Congress for the first time.

Alabama tried again to challenge the maps, and that case is still pending before the Supreme Court.

In 2025, a three-judge panel ruled that Alabama can’t use its maps that were struck down and ordered that the state use its new maps until the state enacts new maps based on the 2030 census.

Officials said they’ll continue pushing for a resolution to the court case.

“Alabama has been fighting this battle for many years, and today the Supreme Court confirmed our long-held argument that States must not use race, either to help or to harm particular voters, when drawing voting districts,” Attorney General Steve Marshall said in a statement.

Marshall is leading Alabama’s appeals to the Supreme Court. He also is running for a U.S. Senate seat.

Can Alabama redraw its maps?

Immediately after the decision, Alabama Republicans began calling for an effort to redraw maps in a way that would send as many as nine Republicans to Congress.

If Ivey won’t call a special session, nothing will happen this year.

But the next governor could call a special session to do so.

Doug Jones, a Democratic candidate, warned against the possibility in a statement Wednesday.

“Without the protections of the Voting Rights Act, this decision gives Republicans cover to weaken Black voting power while hiding behind the excuse of partisan politics,” he said.

Sen. Tommy Tuberville, a Republican candidate for governor, said Thursday that “Alabama must take action to make sure our maps accurately reflect the politics and values of Alabamians and not the DNC.”

Before any new maps are implemented, though, the state may need to resolve its pending Supreme Court case.

Democratic reaction

Democrats across Alabama interpreted the decision as a threat to the small share of power that they do have.

“The right-wing Supreme Court has not only turned its back on decades of precedent and ignored the intent of Congress and the will of the people, but it has weakened the foundational principle safeguarding fair representation for Black and minority voters,” Rep. Terri Sewell said Wednesday.

She and other members of the Congressional Black Caucus held an emotional press conference and warned of Republican efforts to “rig” voting maps.

Rep. Shomari Figures flipped a formerly Republican district in 2024, after Alabama’s maps were redrawn.

“While Alabama’s congressional district lines currently remain in place until after the 2030 census, I hope that courts will vigorously enforce the Voting Rights Act across the country,” Figures said in a statement.

“The fight for fair representation continues, so now more than ever, it is critical that every American get involved, get registered to vote, and get out to vote.”

Republican reaction

Alabama Republicans say that they control all branches of the government -- and should be able to draw maps that reflect that majority rule.

U.S. Rep. Barry Moore, now running for Senate, said the Legislature should redraw districts based on communities rather than race.

“Now it’s time for the Alabama Legislature to act and redraw these districts the right way, fair, constitutional, and representative of our communities,” Moore wrote.

Big picture

Big picture, Republican lawmakers in the South can draw maps to break up Black and other minority voters, diluting their voting power and limiting minority representation in Congress and state legislatures.

Leaders of Congress are encouraging the effort.

“We want constitutional maps,” Johnson (R-Louisiana) told reporters on Capitol Hill on Thursday, according to reporting by The Washington Post. “All states that have unconstitutional maps should look at that very carefully, and I think they should do it before the midterms.”

Florida’s legislature passed new maps Wednesday.

Georgia, Tennessee and South Carolina may also consider new maps.

All told, experts say as many as 12 House Democrats could be in danger of losing their seats due to redistricting.