Alabama Must Redraw Senate Map for Majority Black District, Federal Judge Rules
U.S. District Judge Anna M. Manasco ruled that Alabama’s state Senate map violates the Voting Rights Act by not providing sufficient representation for Black voters in Montgomery. Appointed by President Trump, Manasco’s decision stems from a lawsuit filed by advocacy groups including the ACLU and Southern Poverty Law Center, which argued that current districts in Montgomery unfairly dilute Black voting power.
Under the current map, Montgomery includes District 25, represented by white Republican Sen. Will Barfoot, and District 26, represented by Black Democrat Sen. Kirk Hatcher. Manasco found that the map improperly concentrated Black voters into District 26 while limiting their potential influence in District 25. This judicial ruling followed an eight-day trial that presented testimony from 20 witnesses and involved rigorous legal arguments from 48 attorneys.
Manasco has mandated that Alabama lawmakers must create a new Senate district map that includes a majority or near-majority Black district in Montgomery. As the state prepares for all 140 legislative seats to be contested in the upcoming May primary elections, including 35 Senate seats, the urgency for redistricting increases. Alabama’s Legislature convenes for its regular session on January 13, although a special session could be called by Governor Kay Ivey.
This ruling follows a federal decision two weeks prior that mandated Alabama to continue utilizing a court-drawn Congressional district map until 2030. Advocacy leaders, including NAACP’s Benard Simelton, hailed the ruling as progress in the fight for equitable representation, although concerns remain about the untouched districts in Huntsville.
Both the state and plaintiffs must submit proposals for filing progress by next Wednesday, and a status conference is scheduled for the following Thursday in Birmingham.
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