Alabama Republicans rejected the Supreme Court order to redraw the state’s congressional map to include a second majority-Black district.
In June, the United States Supreme Court affirmed a lower court decision that Alabama’s existing map—with one majority Black district out of seven—violates the 1965 Voting Rights Act because it dilutes the voting power of minority voters in a state where 27 percent of the population is Black.
On Monday, Republican state lawmakers proposed a congressional map without a second majority Black district. Instead, the new map increase the percentage of Black voters in the 2nd Congressional District from around 30 percent to nearly 42.5 percent, still below 50.5 percent ordered by the court.
The Alabama Permanent Legislative Committee on Reapportionment approved the new map on a 14-6 party-line vote. The new map will now be brought forward to other members of the Alabama state legislature in a special session for debate. The map must be passed by Friday with the approval of a federal court.
House Speaker Pro Tempore Chris Pringle (R) who also serves as co-chairman of the state redistricting committee, defended the new map. Pringle claims it gives Black voters a greater opportunity to elect their preferred candidates, according to Politico.
The National Redistricting Foundation called the proposal “shameful” and said it would be challenged.
“It is clear that Alabama Republicans are not serious about doing their job and passing a compliant map, even in light of a landmark Supreme Court decision,” the foundation’s executive director Marina Jenkins said.
Alabama’s state Democratic lawmakers also slammed the new proposal.
“Forty-two percent is not close to 50. In my opinion 48, 49 is close to 50,” Sen. Vivian Davis Figures (D) said.
“The map that we adopted, nobody had any input on,” Rep. Chris England (D) said. “There was no public input on it, not subject to a public hearing and now it’s going to be the map of choice.”
Following the SCOTUS ruling in June, the non-partisan Cook Political Report shifted Alabama’s first and second congressional district from “Solid R” to “Toss up”.
