Supreme Court clears Alabama map that cuts majority-Black district

The Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision, allowed Alabama to use a 2023 congressional map that eliminates one of two majority-Black districts, a win for Republicans ahead of the 2026 elections. The majority said the state is likely to prevail on its claim the map was lawfully drawn, while a dissent argued the move undermines democracy and the rule of law. The ruling references the Court’s Louisiana decision weakening the Voting Rights Act and deferring more to states’ partisan mapmaking; lower courts had previously found the map discriminatory under the 14th Amendment and the Voting Rights Act. Alabama's primaries were delayed to Aug. 11 to accommodate the map.