MONTGOMERY — The Alabama Legislature is one day away from concluding the special legislative session and granting a possible electoral advantage to Republicans after advancing legislation to force the state to use currently-blocked electoral maps should federal courts act.
The House Ways and Means General Fund Committee advanced legislation that would authorize a new special primary election to be held if a federal court issues an order or vacates an injunction, thereby allowing the legislature to use a previously enacted legislative State Senate redistricting plan in the 2026 general election.
The bill by State Sen. Chris Elliott (R-Josephine) would be contingent on the court ruling being made too late to be accommodated within the normal primary election schedule. Any special primary election would not affect the 2026 General Election date set for November 2026.
The special session was called after the 6-3 majority ruling in Louisiana v. Callias, in which the U.S. Supreme Court held that race-based gerrymandering was unconstitutional. Alabama swiftly reacted, filing motions to have the injunction on both the congressional and state senate maps approved by lawmakers lifted. Lawmakers approved the 2023 congressional map following an initial map that was blocked by a federal court, forcing the legislature to approve another. Despite the redrawing, a three-judge panel likewise found that the 2023 map likely violated the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Thursday's committee meeting brought about similarly displeased crowds of citizens, accusing the legislature of trying to stifle the black vote.
The bill had a public hearing featuring several speakers, including U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures (D-Mobile), who flipped the Second Congressional District seat to Democratic control in 2024 under the court-imposed map. Other speakers included pastors, leaders of advocacy agencies and state representatives.
The crowd was frequently rambunctious, as each speaker seemed to try to match their predecessors in aggressiveness and rhetorical fervor. At one point, State Rep. Joe Lovvorn (R-Auburn) halted the proceedings after people began a "no justice, no peace" chant, which was encouraged by state Democratic lawmakers. After Lovvorn halted the meeting and stated that the current speaker's clock had been running during the disruption, he was met with a flurry of curse words, incoherent shouts, and chants, which included "End the Confederacy. End White Supremacy."
Lovvorn agreed to request from other committee members to allow the speakers to continue. The speaker quickly referred to the "unhonorable House of Representatives."
Several additional speakers also approached the podium amid further disruptions from the crowd, after which committee members continued their objections to the bill, occasionally batting down boos and jeers.
State Rep. Chris Pringle (R-Mobile) carried the bill before the committee, frequently trying to counter objections that it was meant to draw a new map.
"We believe that this was a clear racial gerrymander that is illegal," Pringle said. "And all we have done is ask the court to reverse it, and they don't have to reverse it."
He continued, "If they agree with our legal arguments, then we will have a special election in those two districts. If they don't agree with our arguments, nothing. There's no election. There's no cost."
"This is nothing new to black people," replied State Rep. A.J. McCampbell (D-Demopolis). "It is not new to us. And we have stood to keep fighting for years. And at this point in time, we will continue to try to get you to accept us, God does."
After the contentious meeting, the committee conducted a roll call and passed the bill by a clear party-line vote. The meeting adjourned, drawing a sea of boos.
The bill is now slated for a floor vote in the House of Representatives on Friday. After which, the legislature is expected to adjourn for the final time in this special session.
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