Supreme Court allows Alabama to use congressional map that eliminates a majority-Black district

Key Points:

• The Supreme Court, in a 6-3 conservative majority ruling, allowed Alabama to use a new congressional map that reduces the number of majority-Black districts from two to one, a move favored by Republicans.
• The court's order stated Alabama is likely to prevail in its claim that the map was lawfully drawn, despite lower courts finding the map intentionally discriminated against Black voters in violation of the 14th Amendment and the Voting Rights Act.
• The ruling follows the Supreme Court's recent decision in a Louisiana case that weakened the Voting Rights Act, prompting courts to defer more to states' partisan interests in redistricting.
• Liberal Justice Sonia Sotomayor dissented, criticizing the majority for disregarding democratic values, enabling intentional discrimination, and causing election chaos by approving an unused map close to upcoming primaries.
• Alabama's primaries were delayed from May 19 to August 11 as officials adjusted to the new ruling, amid a broader wave of rapid redistricting efforts by Republican-led states aiming to protect their House majority ahead of the 2024 midterms.