Alabama appealing to Supreme Court after House map deemed unfair to Black voters rejected

The legal battle over Alabama's congressional maps is heading back to the U.S. Supreme Court. Attorney General Steve Marshall officially filed a notice of appeal this morning in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, challenging a recent ruling that blocked the state’s use of a Republican-backed congressional map.

Court Strikes Down Redistricting Map

A three-judge district court panel recently ruled that the redistricting map approved by the Legislature in 2023 violates both the 14th Amendment and the Voting Rights Act. According to the court, the map was designed to intentionally dilute the influence of Black voters.

This judicial block prevents the state from utilizing the challenged map for the upcoming August 11 special primary election, which covers congressional districts 1, 2, 6, and 7. The primary was previously authorized by the Legislature and Gov. Kay Ivey, with Republicans seeking to use the map as part of an effort to flip District 2—a seat currently held by U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures, D-Mobile—back to the GOP.

For more details on the court's decision, read 205focus.com's coverage here: In major move, judges block change to Alabama voting maps after redistricting: What happens now?

Political Reaction and Next Steps

Governor Kay Ivey reaffirmed her support for Attorney General Marshall’s decision to elevate the case to the Supreme Court. "I fully support Attorney General Marshall appealing this unsurprising decision to the U.S. Supreme Court, and I remain hopeful they will allow Alabama to move forward with our August 11 Special Primary Election," Ivey said in a statement. She added, "I will continue to say: Alabama knows our state, our people and our districts best."

Conversely, former U.S. Sen. Doug Jones, who is running as the Democratic nominee for governor, applauded the district court's intervention. Jones noted that the ruling, delivered by a panel that included two judges appointed by President Trump, halted a "scheme" to use maps he described as "tainted by race-based discrimination."

"This decision is a win for democracy and fair representation, but the fight in the courts isn’t over," Jones stated.