Story perspectives

Alabama Holds Special Primaries After Map Removes Black Seat

8/12/2026

Summary

Story summary

Alabama held Tuesday’s special primaries for four congressional districts after Gov. Kay Ivey postponed them following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling, using a new map that eliminates one of the state’s two majority-Black seats.
The map lowered the Black share in the 2nd District from about 48% to roughly 40% and made the 7th District’s Black majority only slight.
Figures (D-AL) will face Rep. Rhett Marques, endorsed by President Donald Trump.

History

Historical Context

After the Supreme Court’s 2013 Shelby County v. Holder decision nullified Section 4(b) of the Voting Rights Act, 13 Southern states—including Alabama—gained freedom to redraw districts without preclearance. The Court’s earlier ruling in Shaw v. Reno (1993) established that racially motivated maps are justiciable. Alabama’s 2024 primary map now lowers the Black population in the 2nd District from 48% to 40%, reviving concerns over minority vote dilution.

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Story summary

Alabama held Tuesday’s special primaries for four congressional districts after Gov. Kay Ivey postponed them following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling, using a new map that eliminates one of the state’s two majority-Black seats.
The map lowered the Black share in the 2nd District from about 48% to roughly 40% and made the 7th District’s Black majority only slight.
Figures (D-AL) will face Rep. Rhett Marques, endorsed by President Donald Trump.

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