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Alabama Gov. Approves Special Primaries in Redistricting Fight

5/9/2026

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Summary

Story summary

After the Supreme Court limited race in redistricting, Governor Kay Ivey signed a bill permitting special primaries if courts approve new maps.
Republican leaders have asked a federal court and the U.S. Supreme Court to replace the map that created two majority-minority districts with the 2023 map that has one.
House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter said the bill will return the Second District to Republican control and make the Seventh competitive.

History

Historical Context

The Voting Rights Act of 1965, signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson on August 6, 1965, banned racial voting discrimination and required preclearance. The Supreme Court struck down the coverage formula in Shelby County v. Holder (2013) and later trimmed Section 2 in Brnovich (2021) and Callais (2026). The Justice Department reviewed 13 states, blocked 1,000 maps, and Alabama Republicans invoke the 2026 ruling to limit race-based redistricting.

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Story summary

After the Supreme Court limited race in redistricting, Governor Kay Ivey signed a bill permitting special primaries if courts approve new maps.
Republican leaders have asked a federal court and the U.S. Supreme Court to replace the map that created two majority-minority districts with the 2023 map that has one.
House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter said the bill will return the Second District to Republican control and make the Seventh competitive.

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