Gov. Kay Ivey calls special session on Congressional redistricting

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WAKA) – Gov. Kay Ivey has called a special session to start Monday, May 4, to address how Alabama will respond to a U.S. Supreme Court decision regarding how Congressional district maps are drawn.

As Action 8 News has reported, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a case involving Louisiana that struck down a majority Black congressional district. In a 6-3 ruling, the court’s conservative majority found that the Louisiana district relied too heavily on race in how it was designed. Chief Justice John Roberts had described the 6th Congressional District as a “snake” that stretches more than 200 miles to link parts of Shreveport, Alexandria, Lafayette and Baton Rouge.

In 2023, Alabama was forced to change its Congressional districts in order to give Black voters a greater chance at electing a second Black U.S. Representative to join Congresswoman Terri Sewell. The following year, Black Democrat Shomari Figures was elected in the newly-redrawn 2nd Congressional District.

Current Alabama Congressional District Map – Photo from Alabama Secretary of State’s Office

The new map put Congressman Barry Moore of Enterprise, who had represented the 2nd District, into the 1st District. That led to an unusual election between two sitting Republican Congressman who had to face off for the same seat — Moore, and then-Congressman Jerry Carl of Mobile, who served the 1st District. Moore defeated Carl in 2024.

With the decision in the Louisiana case, Republicans in Alabama want to revert back to a previous district map for both the U.S. House and the Alabama State Senate.

“Following the successful 2020 census, Alabama maintained our representation in Congress, and I called a special session to redraw our maps. Since then, we have been battling federal courts and activist groups who think they know Alabama better than Alabama,” Gov. Kay Ivey said in a statement.

“Earlier this week, however, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a positive decision in the Louisiana v. Callais case, which I said was encouraging for our own pending litigation. I also acknowledged that Alabama’s redistricting battle is not over. The state remains under a court order prohibiting the use of new congressional maps until after the 2030 census.

“While we were not yet in position to call a special session earlier this week, I said we needed to keep up our fight in the courts. Immediately, Attorney General Steve Marshall filed emergency motions at the U.S. Supreme Court regarding Alabama’s redistricting case. As I said following the emergency motions being filed, I remain hopeful Alabama will receive a favorable outcome from the U.S. Supreme Court, which is why I am now calling a special session of the Alabama Legislature.

“By calling the Legislature into a special session, I am ensuring Alabama is prepared should the courts act quickly enough to allow Alabama’s previously drawn congressional and state senate maps to be used during this election cycle. If the court-ordered injunction is lifted, Alabama would revert to the maps drawn by the Legislature for congressional districts in 2023 and state senate districts in 2021.

“During this special session, I have called on the Legislature to address legislation to provide for a special primary election for electing members of the U.S. House of Representatives and the Alabama State Senate in districts whose boundary lines are altered by court action.

“I expect the Legislature to address this call in fast order and be completed within five days. As I continue saying, Alabama knows our state, our people and our districts best,” Ivey said.

The special session is scheduled to start at 4PM on Monday, May 4.

The Governor’s proclamation calling the Legislature into special session says:

“The Legislature may consider legislation to provide for a special primary election for electing members of the United State House of Representatives and the Alabama State Senate in districts whose boundary lines are altered by a court issuing a judgment, vacating an injunction, or otherwise ordering or permitting an alteration in the boundaries of such districts.”