Alabama received the green light from the US Supreme Court Monday to pursue a redistricting effort that could boost Republicans in two Democrat-controlled congressional districts.
In a 6-3 ruling, the justices vacated a lower-court order requiring Alabama’s congressional map to include two majority-black voting districts.
The seats are held by Democratic Reps. Terri Sewell and Shomari Figures.
The ruling follows the high court’s landmark decision in the Louisiana v. Callais case, which outlawed racial gerrymandering.
Liberal Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented in the Alabama ruling.
The high court directed a lower court to reconsider the Alabama case in light of the Louisiana decision.
Republican Gov. Kay Ivey signaled last week that Alabama was “ready to quickly act” should the courts issue favorable rulings related to redistricting.
The state plans to revert to maps drawn by the Legislature for congressional districts in 2023 and state senate districts in 2021.
The state’s May 19 primary election is expected to go on as planned, but under a recently enacted law, Ivey has the power to call for a special election – after the primary – in districts whose boundary lines change as a result of redistricting.
Alabama is one of several states attempting to install new congressional district boundaries ahead of the November midterm elections.
The nationwide redistricting battle is thus far being won by Republicans.
The GOP stands to win as many as 14 additional seats in the House of Representatives from new districts enacted in Texas, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Florida and Tennessee.
Meanwhile, Democrats could gain up to six additional seats from new districts in California and Utah.
With Post wires
