U.S. Supreme Court Allows Alabama to Hold the 2026 Elections Under a Republican-Favored District Map

The U.S. Supreme Court has allowed Alabama to hold its 2026 congressional elections under a district map favorable to Republicans and unfavorable to Democrats.

The case concerns a map approved in 2021. Under it, Democrats have a realistic chance of winning only one of Alabama’s seats in the House of Representatives, while the remaining districts are likely to stay in Republican hands.

Alabama traditionally votes Republican. But the state has areas with predominantly Black populations—including around Birmingham, Selma, Montgomery and Mobile—where the Democratic Party is strong. Historically, this territory contained one “Democratic” district where Democratic candidates usually prevailed.

After the 2020 census showed the share of the Black population had risen to 27%, Democrats said the electoral map should be redrawn so that the party would have a chance of winning in two districts. In January 2022, a federal court found the previous map “likely violated the Voting Rights Act” and ordered the creation of a new map with two “Black” districts.

In 2023, Alabama’s legislature approved a map with revised boundaries, but it still contained only one district with a predominantly Black population. The court treated this as an attempt to avoid complying with its ruling and effectively approved, on its own, an interim map with two such districts. That was the map used for the 2024 congressional elections.

The Supreme Court has now effectively paused the 2023 federal court ruling and allowed the state to use, in the fall of 2026, a map with one such district—essentially close to the one used since 1993.

This means Democrats in Alabama are highly likely to lose one congressional seat in the 2026 elections, while Republicans, by contrast, may gain an additional mandate.

The fight over more favorable congressional district boundaries in the United States has been going on for several months. Republicans have secured map revisions in their favor in Louisiana and Texas. Estimates suggest this could give them up to 6 additional seats in the House of Representatives after the fall elections.

The fight over more favorable congressional district boundaries in the United States has been going on for several months. Republicans have secured map revisions in their favor in Louisiana and Texas. Estimates suggest this could give them up to 6 additional seats in the House of Representatives after the fall elections.