The Alabama Legislature reapportioned and redistricted all of the congressional districts, the state board of education districts, and the districts in the Alabama House and Senate during a 2021 special session. In June, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the congressional redistricting likely violated the Voting Rights Act of 1965, ultimately leading to the federal court redrawing the districts to create a second majority Black district in the state. That decision made many legislators concerned that the state legislative districts would be next, as suits had already been filed pending the outcome of the congressional redistricting case.
Those concerns were alleviated on Thursday when Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall (R) announced today that the plaintiffs who challenged 33 different State House and Senate districts have now dropped challenges to only two state Senate districts.
The decision by the plaintiffs to drop the cases came following the Attorney General’s filing of a motion to dismiss the claims. Now, challenges to only two Senate districts remain.
“For two years, my office has been defending the State’s redistricting plans,” Marshall said in a statement. “I am pleased to report that the plaintiffs have dropped all their challenges to the State House districts and nearly all their challenges to the State Senate districts. We think the plaintiffs’ remaining two claims also lack merit. I will continue to defend Alabama’s laws and fight attempts to redraw our districts based on racial goals rather than common interests.”
The 105 members of the Alabama House of Representatives during the 2023 regular session were divided 77 to 28 between Republicans and Democrats. The 28 Democrats represent majority-minority districts. Two House seats formerly held by Republicans are currently open and will be decided by pending special elections. Republican Bryan Brinyark faces Democrat John Underwood in HD16 on January 9. Republican Teddy Powell faces Democrat Marilyn Lands in HD10 on March 26.
There is a potential for Democrats to pick up both House seats there in low-turnout special elections.
The 35-member Alabama Senate during the 2023 regular session was divided 27 to 8, with the 8 Democrats representing majority-minority districts. The Republican-leaning Senate District 9 seat is open and will be decided in a special election on April 23.
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