Full Breakdown
Alabama Governor Calls Special Session to Redraw Congressional Maps
5/2/2026, 4:03:22 AM
Redrawing the Map: Immediate Action
Governor Kay Ivey issued a proclamation calling a special session of the Alabama Legislature to convene Monday and finish within five days. Lawmakers will consider new congressional and state-senate district boundaries and draft legislation for a special primary election in any districts whose lines are altered by court action.
Legal and Political Background
The session follows a Supreme Court 6-3 ruling that struck down Louisiana’s second majority-Black congressional district, a decision Governor Ivey cited as encouraging. Alabama remains under an injunction barring new congressional maps until after the 2030 census. The injunction stems from the Northern District of Alabama’s three-judge panel in *Milligan v. Allen*, which ordered the court-drawn map that created a second majority-Black district, reducing Republican seats from six to five.
Data and Political Stakes
Black residents make up over 25 % of Alabama’s population. The map leaves Republicans with five of seven congressional seats, down from six before the majority-Black district. The injunction blocks any new map until after the 2030 census unless lifted.
Official Statements & Responses
Governor Ivey said it defends Alabama’s right to draw its own districts, citing Louisiana decision and noting federal courts and activists have been “battling” state. Attorney General Marshall’s emergency filings ask Supreme Court to lift injunction, letting legislature restore 2023 congressional and 2021 state-senate maps; Republican Party praised Ivey’s leadership, calling it guided by “fair, constitutional principles” rather than race.
Criticism & Opposition
Democratic Rep. Shomari Figures warned the Republican effort seeks to ignore three judges’ findings that Alabama intentionally discriminated against Black voters when drawing post-2020 maps, expressing confidence the courts will uphold those rulings.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Figures has responded saying: “We fully expected Republican efforts to try to get the courts to ignore the findings made by three Republican-appointed judges, including two appointed by Donald Trump.” — Shomari Figures, U.S. Representative (AL-2)
- “We applaud Governor Kay Ivey for her leadership in calling the Legislature back into session as Alabama takes the next step following the Supreme Court’s decision in Louisiana v. Callais. This ruling reinforced what we have long argued — that redistricting should be guided by fair, constitutional principles and not driven by race. Governor Ivey’s action reaffirms that Alabama leaders are united in defending our state’s right to determine our own districts. Alabama knows our people, our communities, and our state better than federal courts or outside activist groups. We remain confident that the courts will apply the Callais decision to Alabama’s case and that the map enacted by the people’s representatives in the Legislature will ultimately prevail.” — Alabama GOP
- “Alabama knows our people, our communities, and our state better than federal courts or outside activist groups.” — Kay Ivey
- “Supreme Court, which is why I am now calling a special session of the Alabama Legislature.” — Kay Ivey
Why It Matters
The redistricting outcome will determine whether Alabama’s congressional delegation reflects the state’s demographics, affect the balance of power in the U.S. House, and test the Voting Rights Act after the Supreme Court’s recent Louisiana ruling.
What's Next
The Supreme Court will consider emergency petitions filed by Attorney General Marshall and Secretary of State Allen in coming weeks. If the injunction is lifted, the legislature must finalize new district lines and special-primary legislation before the five-day deadline, shaping the 2026 election cycle.
