Supreme Court Asked to Block Alabama’s 2023 Congressional Map
6 verified4 unconfirmed
Challengers to Alabama’s latest congressional redistricting plan have asked the Supreme Court to block the 2023 map, arguing it discriminates against Black voters. The map, approved by the Republican-controlled state legislature but never used in an election, was struck down last week by a three-judge panel that found it likely violated the Constitution. The state had appealed to the justices, seeking permission to use the plan in this fall’s elections. The litigation follows a recent Supreme Court decision in Louisiana v. Callais that narrowed the Voting Rights Act’s protections against racially discriminatory maps. Alabama officials implemented a court-ordered map for the 2024 elections after their first two redistricting attempts were also struck down. The Supreme Court previously considered the case, known as Allen v. Milligan, which now returns to the justices for a third time. Filings from voters and Democratic officials urge the Court to keep the 2024 court-ordered districts in place for the upcoming elections.
What’s verified
Alabama’s 2023 congressional redistricting map is being challenged in the Supreme Court.
A three-judge lower court blocked the map, finding it likely discriminated against Black voters.
The Supreme Court recently decided Louisiana v. Callais, which altered the standard for proving racial discrimination in redistricting.
The 2023 map has never been used in an election; a court-ordered map was used in 2024.
Challengers, including voters and Democratic state legislators, filed arguments urging the Supreme Court to block the map.
Alabama officials asked the Supreme Court to allow the 2023 plan to be used in this fall’s elections.
Not yet confirmed
One source describes the 2023 law’s language praising the “shared culture” of a predominantly white region stemming from “French and Spanish colonial heritage” as evidence of discriminatory intent; the other source does not address this specific language.
One source mentions that the National Republican Congressional Committee and the Trump administration filed briefs siding with Alabama; the other source does not mention these filings.
One source notes that state officials had said it would be “impossible” to implement the 2023 plan as late as this week; the other source does not include this claim.
The specific timing of the Supreme Court’s response and the planned August primary for redrawn districts are not confirmed across both sources.
Key figures
Wes Allen, Alabama secretary of state
Bobby Singleton, Democratic state senator
Evan Milligan, challenger
Marcus Caster, challenger
Kay Ivey, Republican governor of Alabama
Sources: vox.com, rollcall.com
