Governor Kay Ivey calls lawmakers to Montgomery as Supreme Court ruling looms
Category: Politics
The Alabama Legislature commenced a special session on Monday afternoon, May 4, 2026, aimed at potentially redrawing congressional and legislative maps, contingent upon a ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court. Governor Kay Ivey convened this session under pressure from state Republicans who are pushing to eliminate two congressional districts currently held by Democratic Representatives Terri Sewell and Shomari Figures.
This legislative effort comes on the heels of a recent Supreme Court decision that weakened Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which prohibits racial discrimination in voting practices. The ruling has made it significantly more challenging to contest district maps on the basis of racial discrimination. Alabama is currently under an injunction that bars it from redistricting until 2030, complicating the situation for lawmakers.
Attorney General Steve Marshall filed an emergency petition with the Supreme Court on May 1, 2026, seeking to dissolve this injunction. If the court agrees to lift the order, Alabama would revert to maps drawn by the Legislature in 2023 for congressional districts and in 2021 for state Senate districts. These maps were previously ruled unconstitutional by a panel of federal judges due to racially polarized voting patterns.
In her statement, Ivey emphasized the importance of being prepared: "By calling the Legislature into a special session, I am ensuring Alabama is prepared should the courts act quickly enough to allow Alabama’s previously drawn congressional and state senate maps to be used during this election season." She indicated that the special session could lead to special elections in districts with altered boundaries.
House Speaker Nathaniel Ledetter and Senate President Pro Tem Garlan Gudger, both Republicans, suggested that the Legislature's primary aim is to eliminate Figures' congressional seat and redraw two Montgomery-area state Senate districts that a federal judge previously found to be in violation of Section 2. They stated, "We have a responsibility to give our state a fighting chance to send seven Republican members to Congress." Currently, Alabama's congressional delegation includes two Democrats, a situation that Republicans are eager to change.
Democrats and civil rights groups have condemned the proposed changes. Figures stated, "Now, the state is asking the courts to close their eyes and forget what they already saw. This same Supreme Court has already upheld the findings in this case once, and we are confident the courts will uphold the law again." Sewell added, "Republican state leaders are desperate to revert us back to a map that silences our voices, dilutes our power, and denies us a fair seat at the table. We will not take this sitting down." The Supreme Court has yet to rule on Marshall's petition.
Alabama’s current situation is compounded by a history of contentious redistricting efforts. In 2021, the Legislature drew congressional maps that were later deemed likely to violate the Voting Rights Act. This led to the Supreme Court's decision in Allen v. Milligan in 2023, which mandated that Alabama create a new map that includes two majority-Black congressional districts, a requirement that has been a point of contention.
In the aftermath of the Supreme Court's recent ruling in Louisiana v. Callais, which struck down a majority-Black congressional district, Alabama Republicans have moved quickly to reassess their voting maps. This has been part of a broader national trend, where various states have sought to redraw districts in response to changing legal standards surrounding voting rights.
The current special session is scheduled to last approximately five days, during which lawmakers will discuss potential redistricting plans and special elections. If passed, these changes would have implications for upcoming primaries scheduled for May 19, 2026, with a voter registration deadline that coincides with the start of the special session.
As the special session progresses, lawmakers are expected to introduce various redistricting plans or election schedules. These proposals will be considered in committee and on the floor, similar to any other legislative bill. The urgency stems from the upcoming primaries, where new maps could necessitate changes to candidate eligibility based on the revised district boundaries.
If the Supreme Court permits the state to redistrict, the affected districts would include U.S. House Districts 1, 2, and 7, as well as State Senate Districts 25 and 26. Changes to these districts could significantly alter the political dynamics, potentially making it more difficult for Figures to retain his seat, whereas Sewell’s district is expected to remain majority-Black and favorable for reelection.
Republicans are optimistic about their chances of gaining more congressional seats, with some leaders claiming that the proposed changes could provide them a "fighting chance" to send seven Republican members to Congress. Meanwhile, Democrats are preparing for legal challenges against any redistricting efforts that they perceive as an attempt to undermine fair representation.
As of now, the Supreme Court's decision on the emergency petition filed by Marshall remains pending, leaving the future of Alabama's congressional maps uncertain. The outcome of this special session and the court's ruling will have lasting implications for the state's political representation and the broader national conversation surrounding voting rights.