Montgomery, Alaa.. Alabama lawmakers looking to get involved in the national redistricting battle could vote Friday on a plan to change the state’s congressional primaries if courts allow Republican state officials to switch to more advantageous maps for the U.S. House of Representatives ahead of November’s midterm elections.
The Alabama legislation, which only needs a final vote in the Senate to go to Republican Governor Kay Ivey, seeks to capitalize on the recent decision US Supreme Court ruling In a Louisiana case that significantly weakened Voting Rights Act protections for minorities.
Republicans in southern states moved quickly to try to capitalize on this issue. Tennessee issued Thursday’s new congressional districts bisecting a predominantly black, Democratic-controlled district in Memphis. Louisiana has postponed its U.S. House primary, while lawmakers work to legislate new districts. Republicans in the South Carolina House of Representatives also proposed a new map for the US House of Representatives.
Even before the Supreme Court’s ruling, Republicans and Democrats were already engaged in a fierce struggle Redistricting battleEach is seeking an advantage in the midterm elections that will determine control of the closely divided House of Representatives.
Since President Donald Trump urged Texas to redraw congressional districts last summer, nine states have adopted new House districts. Of these, Republicans believe they can win up to 14 seats while Democrats believe they can win up to 10 seats. But the parties may not get everything they sought, because Cheating It can backfire in some highly competitive areas.
Alabama has asked federal judges to overturn a court order requiring the state to have a second district in which black voters are at or near the majority. That district in 2024 led to the election of Democratic Rep. Shomari Figgers, who is Black.
Republicans instead want a map drawn by lawmakers in 2023 — which was A federal court rejected it – This may allow them to reclaim the character area. Black residents currently make up about 48% of the district’s voting-age population. This percentage will decrease to about 39% within the 2023 map.
Republicans hope federal courts will view the issue differently in the wake of the Louisiana Supreme Court’s decision. If the court grants Alabama’s request, the legislation under consideration would ignore the scheduled May 19 primaries for some congressional seats and direct the governor to schedule new primaries under the revised districts.
“It is a case, and only if, the courts take action,” Republican state Sen. Chris Elliott said.
The House passed the legislation on a party-line vote on Wednesday, and a Senate committee submitted it to the full chamber on Thursday.
Addressing the Senate committee, Figgers said his concern was not for himself but for the people who have struggled for decades “to have a voice in what government looks like.”
“I met a gentleman last night, and he said, ‘Man, I heard your job is on the line.’ And I said, ‘No, Shomari Figures is going to be fine.’ The numbers said, ‘Your vote is on the line.’”
Some Democrats pointed out that the state’s racist past was not that long ago, and that it was districts created under the Voting Rights Act that led to black representation after centuries of disenfranchisement.
“How long will we have to repeat history before we realize that all people deserve respect and deserve to feel valued?” asked Democratic state Sen. Linda Coleman Madison, who is black.
South Carolina House Republicans circulated a new proposed map for the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday. It would give the GOP a better chance of winning the only seat currently held by a Democrat.
The proposal would remove Democratic U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn from the 6th District, which he has represented since 1992 while dividing the district into four different districts. Clyburn’s current district is made up of nearly 50% Black voters, and in the 2024 presidential election, more than 60% of residents voted for Democrat Kamala Harris.
The proposed map would also divide the Democratic stronghold of Columbia and its red suburbs into four different districts.
The state House of Representatives on Wednesday approved a resolution giving lawmakers permission to return after their regular work ends on May 14 to continue considering the redistricting plan. But Republican Senate Majority Leader Shane Massie said the Senate on Thursday delayed action on the resolution because members wanted an idea of what the new districts could look like.
After the House plan was published, Massey noted continued concerns. He said as many as four districts could become competitive, requiring significant support for Republican candidates and hurting the party’s down-ballot races.
“If we handle this too nicely, we could end up losing seats,” Massey said.
The state’s primary elections will be held on June 9.
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Collins reported from Columbia, South Carolina, and Lieb from Jefferson City, Missouri.