During Thursday's broadcast of WVNN's "The Dale Jackson Show," State Sen. Sam Givhan (R-Huntsville) spoke about an ongoing legal case currently before the U.S. Supreme Court that could potentially result in Republicans gaining the two remaining Democratic House districts in Alabama.
The case, Louisiana v. Callais, addresses racial gerrymandering and congressional redistricting in Louisiana.
"A lot of people believe that the Supreme Court is going to rule in the Callais case coming out of Louisiana in a way that's favorable to allowing the Alabama Senate to revert to our original map and then to revert to the original congressional map," Givhan told host Dale Jackson.
The legislator noted multiple factors that could determine whether the legal decision affects Alabama.
"Now, there are still things to fall on that. There's a timing issue," said Givhan. "When are they going to do that? Is that going to be in time for us to do something as a practical matter, before the elections? So all those things are moving parts that we can't quite figure out. You don't know what's going to happen until the shoe falls. And, of course, what's the order going to say?"
"Could it be so fact-specific and unique to Louisiana that it doesn't go any further than that state. I don't think that they're going to do that, because that's what got us into this mess," he added.
Givhan then explained how the Louisiana v. Callais case came about.
"Some people filed a lawsuit in Louisiana and said you got to have another minority spot, and then Louisiana said. "OK, this is what we're going to do, and we're doing it for political reasons and to protect some of their powerful House members or congressional members."
"And then some, I think they were labeled non-black voters, came in there and filed a suit. And said, 'Hey, y'all use race illegally.' And if you look at the map, Chief Justice Roberts' comments were like, 'It's obviously you used race here. You can't draw a district like that and abandon all other typical redistricting principles and go across the state like that.' So, it sounds like that Louisiana case is on weak footing for sure, and that that's going to turn the other way."
Givhan also addressed the possibility of Republicans occupying all seven congressional seats across the state, depending on the court's ruling.
"I just think that's a mistake. We have to face reality. About 50% of the time, there's going to be a Democrat in the White House. And who is going to speak for Alabama, or communicate with Alabama, with the White House? Is it going to be the congressman for the seventh district, or is it going to be the mayor of Montgomery, mayor of Birmingham or the mayor of Tuscaloosa?"
"There is not going to be a statewide elected official, let's face it, to communicate with them," added Givhan.
In Louisiana v. Callais, the Supreme Court is specifically considering whether Louisiana’s creation of a second majority-black district that was required by the Voting Rights Act is still a violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th and 15th Amendments of the U.S. Constitution.
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