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(THE NATIONAL PULSE) – Governor Kay Ivey is reconvening Alabama’s state legislature, which could reshape the congressional landscape pending a pivotal decision from the Supreme Court.
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WHAT HAPPENED: Governor of Alabama Kay Ivey (R) has announced that the state’s congressional map will be redrawn ahead of the midterm elections following a landmark Supreme Court ruling against racially gerrymandered majority-minority electoral districts. Howvever, the special session to redistrict the state is contingent on the U.S. Supreme Court lifting a key injunction.
DETAIL: On Friday, Ivey announced that she is summoning the Alabama legislature to redraw the state’s congressional map. The session to redistrict the state is scheduled for Monday next week. However, the session is dependent on the Supreme Court lifting an injunction tied to the Allen v. Milligan case. That case initially forced Alabama to create additional racially gerrymandered black-majority districts. Steve Marshall (R), Attorney General of Alabama, filed an emergency appeal asking justices to lift the Allen v. Milligan injunction on Thursday evening.
KEY QUOTE: “By calling the Legislature into a special session, I am ensuring that Alabama is prepared should the courts act quickly enough to allow Alabama’s previously drawn congressional and state senate maps to be used during this election cycle.” — Kay Ivey
IMPACT: If Alabama is successful at getting the Allen v. Milligan injunction lifted, the state would be allowed to eliminate racially gerrymandered majority-minority districts, likely costing the Democrats representation in the U.S. House of Representatives in the November midterms. The Louisiana v. Callais ruling against racial gerrymandering earlier this week suggests that there is a high chance the Supreme Court will lift the injunction.
