Supreme Court Allows Alabama's GOP-Backed Congressional Map for Midterm Elections

<p>The Supreme Court issued an emergency order on June 3, 2026, allowing Alabama to use a congressional map adopted by the state legislature in 2023 for the upcoming midterm elections. This map includes a single majority-Black district. The court's decision followed an emergency appeal from Alabama, which had previously faced a lower court ruling blocking the map.</p><p>The ruling enables Alabama Republicans to potentially gain an additional congressional seat by replacing a court-drawn district that previously supported a Black Democrat. The Supreme Court had vacated the lower court's ruling blocking the map and sent the case back for further review. However, a three-judge federal panel had again blocked the GOP-backed map, ordering Alabama to continue using a court-drawn map with two majority-Black districts.</p><p>Alabama Governor Kay Ivey expressed support for the ruling, stating that the elections would proceed under the 2023 map. She emphasized the state's understanding of its districts and the importance of the decision for Alabama's elections.</p><p>The redistricting issue has been contentious, with Alabama arguing that the lower court's map prioritized race over traditional districting principles. Voting rights groups contended that the new map undermines Black voting power. The Supreme Court's majority opinion noted that the state demonstrated irreparable harm and that public interest favored the emergency order.</p><p>Justice Sonia Sotomayor dissented, arguing that the new map discriminates against Black voters in Alabama and could lead to chaos in the upcoming elections. The ACLU criticized the ruling, stating it allows the use of a racially discriminatory map and delays relief for voters seeking equal representation.</p>