The U.S. Supreme Court issued an order on June 2, 2026, allowing Alabama to use a congressional map previously found to be discriminatory [1], [2].
The decision preserves a redistricting plan that reduces the number of majority-Black districts in the state, potentially shifting the balance of power in the U.S. House of Representatives before the upcoming midterm elections.
In a six-three unsigned shadow-docket order, the Court permitted the use of the 2023 map [3], [4]. A lower federal court had previously ruled that the map was intentionally discriminatory against Black voters [1], [5]. By allowing the map to stand, the Supreme Court effectively rejected the lower court's finding that the lines were drawn to dilute Black voting power [1], [6].
The 2023 map eliminates one of the state's two majority-Black districts, leaving only one [7]. This configuration is expected to provide a potential gain of one seat for Republicans in the U.S. House [3].
Gov. Kay Ivey (R-AL) welcomed the ruling. "This is a major win for Alabama and for the people of our state," Ivey said [2].
Legal experts and critics of the decision expressed concern over the Court's use of the shadow docket to resolve a matter involving racial discrimination. An unnamed NYU Law professor said the move is a "huge kind of middle finger to lower courts that are doing the work and genuinely are trying to suss out what’s going on here" [8].
The ruling ensures that the contested map will be the one used for the next cycle of congressional elections, regardless of the previous judicial findings regarding voter dilution [1], [6].
“"This is a major win for Alabama and for the people of our state."”
This ruling signals a high bar for challenging redistricting maps in the Supreme Court, particularly when the Court utilizes the shadow docket to bypass full briefings and oral arguments. By upholding a map that a lower court deemed intentionally discriminatory, the Court has prioritized the immediate implementation of the 2023 lines over the lower court's findings on the Voting Rights Act, likely securing a partisan advantage for Republicans in Alabama's congressional delegation.
