Federal Court Restores Alabama Congressional Map with Two Majority-Black Districts

On May 26, 2026, a three-judge federal panel with two Trump appointees struck down Alabama's 2023 congressional map and restored a version with two majority-Black districts for the 2026 midterm elections. The court ruled Alabama's 2023 map, which had only one majority-Black district, intentionally discriminates against Black voters. Alabama Governor Kay Ivey had delayed four congressional primaries approximately one week earlier anticipating a new map.

Federal court ruling

• ▪A three-judge panel of the U.S. District Court in Alabama ruled on May 26, 2026 that Alabama could not switch to its 2023 congressional map.
• ▪Two of the three judges on the U.S. District Court panel that ruled on Alabama's congressional map were appointed by President Trump.
• ▪The three-judge panel ruled that there is no convincing evidence that it is necessary to allow Alabama to pivot to the 2023 congressional map in the middle of an election.

Congressional map discrimination

• ▪Alabama's 2023 congressional map had only one majority-Black, Democratic-leaning district.
• ▪Alabama's current congressional map has two majority-Black districts.
• ▪Alabama's 2023 congressional map was previously blocked in court three years before May 2026.
• ▪Alabama Governor Kay Ivey delayed four of Alabama's congressional primaries in anticipation of a new congressional map approximately one week before May 26, 2026.
• ▪The U.S. District Court ruled that Alabama's 2023 congressional map intentionally discriminates against Black voters.

Supreme Court involvement

• ▪The Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act in May 2026.
• ▪The Supreme Court sent Alabama's congressional redistricting process down to the lower court.
• ▪The Supreme Court cleared the way for Alabama to redraw its congressional maps approximately two weeks before May 26, 2026.

Republican redistricting efforts

• ▪Alabama Republicans will almost certainly appeal the May 26, 2026 U.S. District Court ruling on the congressional map.
• ▪Alabama Republicans ignored protests in order to force through a new congressional map as primary elections draw near.

Perspective of Alabama Republicans

• ▪Alabama Republicans ignored protests and natural disasters in order to force through the 2023 congressional map as primary elections drew near in May 2026.

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