Alabama Republicans have rejected a call to create a Black House District under the orders of the United States Supreme Court, proposing a map that tests the judges' directive.
Now, lawmakers are required to adopt a new map by Friday after a ruling by the high court in June that affirmed a three-judge panel's ruling that the state's existing congressional map most likely violated the Voting Rights Act as it only has a single Black district out of seven.
Alabama GOP Rejects Creation of Black House District
More than one in four residents of Alabama is Black. In 2022, the lower court panel ruled that the state needs another majority-Black congressional district or something similar. This is meant to allow Black voters to "elect a representative of their choice."
GOP lawmakers have long resisted the idea of creating a second Democratic-leaning district. They proposed a map that would increase the percentage of Black voters in the 2nd Congressional District from roughly 30% to nearly 42.5%. They argued that it would satisfy the court or that the state would prevail in a second round of appeals, as per Politico.
In a statement, House Speaker Pro Tempore Chris Pringle said that the numbers were enough to provide an opportunity for an African-American candidate to be elected. The co-chairman of the state redistricting committee added that the plan also satisfies the court's instruction to give Black voters a large chance to elect a preferred candidate.
Pringle noted that they considered what the court had asked them to do: provide the opportunity that complies with Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. The situation comes after the Permanent Legislative Committee on Reappointment approved the proposal in a 14-6 vote that fell largely along party lines.
Now, the proposal will be introduced as legislation on Monday afternoon as lawmakers convene a special session to adopt the new map. One of the groups that supported challenges to the Alabama map, the National Redistricting Foundation, said that the new proposal is shameful.
Redrawing the State Map
The National Redistricting Foundation executive director, Marina Jenkins, accused Alabama Republicans of not being serious in doing their job and passing a complaint map. She said that the pattern seen throughout the state's history shows that the Republican legislature has never done the right thing on its own, according to the Associated Press.
Milligan, a longtime resident of Montgomery, said he is six generations removed from slavery. He added that he wants his children to have an opportunity to lead, dream, and contribute to the community.
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall represented the state in the redistricting lawsuit. He wrote in a letter that plaintiffs previously argued for a "fair chance" to compete but added that they now want more.
Marshall added that they now demand a plan guaranteeing Democratic victories in at least two districts. He noted that the proposed maps divide voters based on the stereotypes of how certain races will vote, said Fox News.
