Alabama Receives A Congressional District With A Second Black Representative As Part Of A Court Ruling

Democratic candidates who want to capture the seat next year will also benefit from the map.

Thursday marked the most recent stage in the lengthy legal dispute between Alabama Republicans and the courts over the state’s electoral boundaries when a federal judge ordered Alabama to adopt a new congressional redistricting plan with a second Black opportunity district.

Black voters are likely to elect the politicians of their choice in opportunity districts. Democrats, predicted to take the seat next year, have also gained from the decision.

Alabama is a primarily Black state, but despite rulings from the U.S. Supreme Court and a federal court, state Republicans continued to redraw the state’s congressional districts so that just one of the seven seats would be held by Black people.

The federal court rejected the state’s most recent plan, which had just one Black district. Instead, it appointed a special master to prepare several political boundary maps for the condition in September.

According to the judgment, which was made on Thursday, the court decided on “Remedial Plan 3” because it “hews as closely as reasonably possible to the Alabama Legislature’s 2023 Plan,” satisfying “all constitutional and statutory requirements.” Also, compared to another suggested proposal, the lawmakers and state secretary “indicated that it is less objectionable.”

Specifically, Alabama’s 2nd and 7th congressional districts comprise the two Black seats.

In the upcoming election, Democrats are expected to take control of Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District, now represented by Republican Rep. Barry Moore, who won the seat by 40 percentage points. By 12 points, the new centre would have elected Joe Biden, according to Dave Wasserman of Cook Political Report. The court judgment states that the seat is an opportunity since 48.7% of the voting-age population is Black.

The only Black member of Congress from Alabama is Democratic Representative Terri Sewell. In the new design, 51.9% of voting-age Black people live in the 7th District, which she represents.

Secretary of State Wes Allen of Alabama said on Thursday that the state will continue to appeal but that 2024, “the map the federal court has forced upon Alabama” would be utilised.

We need everyone in Alabama to be aware that this process is still ongoing in terms of the legal aspect. Later on, he said, there would be a thorough hearing on the redistricting matter.