MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Just one day after the U.S. Supreme Court paved the way for Alabama to use revert to a previously struck-down congressional map, Gov. Kay Ivey set new primary election dates for four of the state’s congressional districts as planned out by legislation enacted in a recent special session.
The nominees for Alabama’s 1st, 2nd, 6th and 7th districts will now be decided on Aug. 11 instead of on May 19.
Ivey said the decision was made because Monday’s Supreme Court ruling did not allow enough time to switch back to the state’s 2023 congressional map before the May 19 primary.
That decision did not immediately allow Alabama to return to the Legislature-drawn 2023 map. It sent the case back down to the lower court to reconsider given the high court’s decision in April about race-based districts.
Plaintiffs in the redistricting case asked the federal court for a temporary restraining order to maintain the “status quo” under the current congressional map.
The three-judge panel also ordered the state to respond by Monday. The court also asked Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen to tell the court when the state needs a final map to administer elections.
The Supreme Court’s 6-3 ruling in Louisiana v. Callais limits the consideration of race when drawing congressional districts, stemming from a majority-minority district in Louisiana. Alabama’s current congressional map was court-imposed and includes two Democrat-held seats.
Reverting to the legislatively-enacted 2023 map will mean Alabama’s 2nd District, drawn by the court to be an “opportunity district” for minority voters, will likely elect a Republican to Congress in 2026.
“Alabamians now have another opportunity to send strong voices to Washington to fight for our values, and I encourage them to get out and vote in this special primary election on August 11,” Ivey said in a press release. “I also urge them to head to the polls this coming Tuesday, May 19 to vote in all other races. We are experiencing strong momentum in Alabama, and I am very optimistic for our future.”
Ivey had the power to call a special primary because of legislation passed last week during a special session of the Legislature.
Candidates have until May 22 to qualify with their parties to run in the special primaries.
There will be no runoff elections. The general election will take place as scheduled on Nov. 3.