Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

Alabama Passes Bills to Schedule Replacement Primaries

5/7/2026

31 4 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Governor Kay Ivey convened a special session to schedule primaries for districts whose boundaries were changed by court-drawn maps.
The Alabama House approved HB1 on a 75-29 party-line vote after about an hour of debate.
The Alabama Senate passed SB1 after a 90-minute debate, despite a tornado warning and rising floodwater.
Both bills let the Secretary of State call replacement primaries only if a federal court lifts the injunctions.

History

Historical Context

In 1946 the Supreme Court ruled 4-3 in Colegrove v. Green that redistricting was a political question. The 1962 Baker v. Carr decision opened courts to enforce “one-person-one-vote,” a rule applied to House districts in Wesberry v. Sanders (1964). Relying on that precedent, Alabama’s 2024 legislature enacted HB 1 and SB 1, allowing the secretary of state to set primary dates after injunctions were lifted.

1 of 2

Story summary

Governor Kay Ivey convened a special session to schedule primaries for districts whose boundaries were changed by court-drawn maps.
The Alabama House approved HB1 on a 75-29 party-line vote after about an hour of debate.
The Alabama Senate passed SB1 after a 90-minute debate, despite a tornado warning and rising floodwater.
Both bills let the Secretary of State call replacement primaries only if a federal court lifts the injunctions.

1 / 2