Alabama Republicans Push Livingston Map to Cut Democratic Seats After Supreme Court Ruling

Alabama Republicans are advancing a new congressional map that would reduce Democratic representation as the GOP holds a slim U.S. House majority. State leaders cite a recent Supreme Court ruling that limits race in redistricting as grounds to challenge a court-drawn map favoring minority voters.

House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter, R-Rainville, said the ruling changes conditions enough to revisit the map. A prior court order in Allen v. Milligan forced Alabama to shift from a 6-1 Republican delegation to 5-2 after rejecting the so-called Livingston map, named for Sen. Steve Livingston, R-Scottsboro. That map offered minority districts with 55% and 40% representation.

Ledbetter expects the legislature's action to prompt Supreme Court review, similar to last week's Louisiana decision that struck down a map with two Democratic districts held by Reps. Cleo Fields and Troy Carter. "Once that happens, it gives the governor opportunity to call a special election," he told Fox News Digital.

Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., joined Rep. Terri Sewell of Birmingham, Alabama's sole Democrat before the redraw produced a seat now held by Rep. Shomari Figures of Mobile, at a Birmingham town hall. Booker said voting rights are on the ballot and the court upended decades of progress by Alabamians.

"Well, I'm probably guessing that's first time Cory Booker's ever been in Alabama," Ledbetter said. "The thing about it is the people that we represent have lived here most of all of their lives and they're the ones that ask us to do something for them — not the Cory Bookers."

Gov. Kay Ivey called lawmakers to special session Monday to prepare for possible primary changes if courts allow the Livingston map. Ledbetter said the session aims to pass it this week. "Our goal is to pass the Livingston map and give the governor the opportunity if the 14th Amendment [provision] is removed," he said.

The map gives all voting blocs a chance, Ledbetter argued. One district was 50-50, and all seven seats would be open. He criticized Democrats for intervening in states like Virginia despite Alabama's Republican supermajority.

Ivey said the state has fought federal courts and activist groups since the 2020 census. "By calling the Legislature into a special session, I am ensuring 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."

Primaries are set for May 19, Secretary of State Wes Allen told the Montgomery Advertiser, regardless of the session's outcome.