Earlier this year, U.S. District Judge Anna Manasco ordered Alabama lawmakers to redraw a new State Senate redistricting map for the 2026 election. Despite the court order, Gov. Kay Ivey opted not to call a special session of the legislature to consider a new map.
Manasco's order concurred with the left-wing plaintiffs suing the state, who claimed that State Senate Districts 25 and 26 held by State Sens. Will Barfoot (R-Pike Road) and Kirk Hatcher (D-Montgomery) violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.
On the heels of Ivey's decision against a special session, Manasco ordered a special master to redraw Alabama's State Senate map to be used for the 2026 election.
Manasco selected the map dubbed "Remedial Plan 3," a map submitted by author "D.D."
During an appearance on Thursday's broadcast of NewsNation's "The Hill with Blake Burman," the author of the Manasco-ordered map revealed himself to be 18-year-old University of Alabama student Daniel DiDonato, who originally hails from Seale and is a graduate of Russell County High School.
DiDonato admitted he was surprised the court went with his map.
"I guess I was extremely shocked," he said. "I know that my passion has always been for electoral politics and for elections. And I figured this would be an excellent opportunity to submit maps that would pass legal muster and that would ultimately be picked by the judge. I wasn't expecting it, but I certainly wanted to take my hand. I figured the worst thing that happened was 'no.'"
When asked about his decision to submit the map while a high school student, he said he saw it as an opportunity to shape the process.
"Because map-making is just something I enjoy," DiDonato explained. "Maps tell a story, and especially election maps. And I figured that this has been in the news here in Alabama for the last five years. This case finally made it to trial in a federal court said that Alabama's State Senate maps unlawfully diluted African-American voting power in violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. When the state had the opportunity to do something about that, they said 'no.' So, the responsibility fell to the federal court. I ultimately decided well, if the court was going to have to pick a map that I figured I would at least send in a map so that I would have the opportunity to shape that process."
DiDonato said he submitted the map under his initials because he was still a minor at the time of his submission.
Jeff Poor is the editor-in-chief of 1819 News and host of "The Jeff Poor Show," heard Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-noon on Mobile's FM Talk 106.5. To connect or comment, email [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @jeff_poor.
Don't miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning.
