Trending Now - Alabama to Divide House Primaries Following Supreme Court Ruling
WHO:
NPR - Alabama Governor Kay Ivey, a Republican, announced the special election.
NPR - The U.S. Supreme Court, with a conservative majority, made the ruling.
Slate - The dissenting justices included Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and Ketanji Brown Jackson.
WHAT:
NPR - The Supreme Court's ruling allows Alabama to revert to a congressional map that could increase Republican representation by potentially reshaping two congressional districts currently represented by Democrats.
Slate - The Supreme Court's decision was made through a shadow docket order that significantly expands the invitation to gerrymander racial minorities out of power.
NPR - Alabama will hold a special primary election for four of its seven congressional districts.
NPR - The Supreme Court vacated a lower court decision that blocked a 2023 congressional map proposal.
NPR - The special election is scheduled for August 11 for the affected congressional districts: the 1st, 2nd, 6th, and 7th.
Slate - The Supreme Court's decision was made by a 6–3 vote.
WHERE:
NPR - The events are taking place in Alabama, specifically affecting its congressional districts.
WHEN:
NPR - The regular primary election in Alabama is scheduled for May 19.
NPR - The special election for the congressional districts is set for August 11.
WHY:
NPR - Alabama's Republican leaders sought to revert to the 2023 map proposal following the Supreme Court's recent ruling in a Louisiana redistricting case that weakened the Voting Rights Act.
Slate - The ruling is seen as a move to eliminate Black representation from congressional delegations in Alabama, following a pattern observed in other GOP-led states.
NPR - The Supreme Court's ruling allows Alabama to revert to a congressional map that could increase Republican representation.
NPR - Governor Ivey stated that the Supreme Court's decision enables Alabama's values to be best represented in Congress.
Slate - The ruling is seen as a move to gerrymander racial minorities out of power, following a previous decision in Louisiana.
HOW:
Slate - The Supreme Court's expedited decision was made to allow Alabama enough time to enact its new gerrymander before the year’s midterm elections, despite the primaries already being underway.
NPR - The Supreme Court's order allows Alabama to use a congressional map that had been previously blocked by the courts.
Slate - The Alabama Legislature is accused of intentionally diluting the political power of racial minorities through gerrymandering.
(UPDATED May 13, 2026 04:18 UTC)
The Supreme Court has ruled that Alabama can revert to a congressional map that may increase Republican representation by reshaping two districts currently held by Democrats. This decision, made through a shadow docket order, is seen as a significant expansion of gerrymandering that could diminish the political power of racial minorities. Alabama's Republican leaders are eager to implement this new map before the midterm elections, even as primaries are already in progress.
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(UPDATED May 13, 2026 01:35 UTC)
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey has announced a special primary election for four of the state's congressional districts following a recent ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court, which voted six to three to vacate a lower court decision that had blocked a proposed congressional map. The special election is set for August 11, and it comes amid concerns that the new map could increase Republican representation while diluting the political power of racial minorities. The regular primary election in Alabama is still on track for May 19, as the state prepares for these significant electoral changes.