Alabama Legislature Works to Approve New District Map to Meet Court Deadline
The Alabama Legislature is taking steps to approve a new district map after receiving guidance from a federal court to create a second majority Black congressional district “or something quite close to it.” The court’s order has prompted a special session, with the House of Representatives and the Senate passing two maps. However, one of them, or a new version, must secure final approval by Friday, in accordance with the court’s deadline.
The plans approved by the Republican majority have faced opposition from Democrats, who argue that they do not fulfill the court’s requirements. Both proposed maps fail to establish a second majority Black district, leaving District 7 as the only such representative area out of the state’s seven districts. District 7, primarily located in west Alabama, is currently represented by Congresswoman Terri Sewell, a Democrat from Birmingham.
The House passed a plan presented by Speaker Pro Tem Chris Pringle, a Republican from Mobile, which aims to raise the Black voting age population in District 2 from 30% to 42%. Meanwhile, the Senate approved a plan proposed by Sen. Steve Livingston, a Republican from Scottsboro, which seeks to increase the Black voting age population in District 2 to 38%. District 2 is currently represented by Congressman Barry Moore, a Republican from Enterprise.
Pringle and Livingston assert that their plans comply with the court’s order and resolve a likely violation of the Voting Rights Act by creating a second district where Black voters would have the opportunity to elect a candidate of their choice.
However, Democrats continue to oppose these plans, contending that they do not meet the court’s prescribed objectives. They argue that the Black population in Alabama, considering other factors like racially polarized voters, has less opportunity to elect candidates of their choice, thereby violating Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.
In a June ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a decision by a three-judge federal district court, which declared that Alabama’s current district map most likely violates the Voting Rights Act. While the court emphasized that the act does not guarantee a proportional district map based on the Black population’s share of the state, it noted that Alabama’s Black population is both substantial and geographically concentrated enough to warrant the creation of a reasonably configured second Black district.
On Friday morning, Pringle presented his bill once again on the House floor. Rep. Sam Jones, a Democrat from Mobile, was the first to address the issue and highlighted the language in the court’s order. Jones emphasized that there is a distinction between being close and quite close, physically positioning himself near Pringle to underscore his point.
“The standard was quite close, not just close,” said Jones.
This news story will be updated as further developments unfold.