SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
MONTGOMERY, AL — A federal court has ruled that Alabama will continue using its current congressional district map until the 2030 redistricting cycle, cementing boundaries that helped elect two Black members of Congress for the first time in modern state history.
In a decision issued Thursday, August 7, 2025, a three-judge panel declined to place the state under preclearance — a Voting Rights Act provision requiring federal approval for changes to district lines. However, the judges opted to retain jurisdiction over the map until the court’s injunction expires, ensuring continued oversight through the end of the decade.
The decision marks the culmination of the Allen v. Milligan case. In June 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Alabama’s 2021 congressional map violated the Voting Rights Act by diluting Black voting power and demanded the creation of a second district where Black voters could elect their preferred candidate. After the Legislature’s first attempt at a revised map failed to meet legal criteria, a court-appointed special master drew the current configuration, which was used in the 2024 elections.
That newly reconfigured 2nd Congressional District became a launching point for Rep. Shomari Figures, who made history alongside Rep. Terri Sewell as Alabama’s only Democratic U.S. House members and the state’s first two Black members of Congress. In total, Alabama’s congressional delegation in the 119th Congress includes two Republican U.S. senators and five Republicans and two Democrats in the House.
Voting rights advocates praised the court’s decision, saying it preserves expanded representation for Black Alabamians. Opponents, however, argue the ruling locks in politically disadvantageous boundaries long-term. The court’s continued supervisory role allows it to address any compliance issues before the next redistricting cycle.
History Brief
Alabama’s current congressional map stems from the landmark Allen v. Milligan case. In 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the state’s 2021 map violated the Voting Rights Act by diluting Black voting power and ordered the creation of a second district where Black voters could elect candidates of their choice. After lawmakers’ initial redraw was rejected, a court-appointed special master created the current map, used in the 2024 elections. This led to the historic victory of Rep. Shomari Figures, giving Alabama two Black members of Congress for the first time in modern history. In February 2025, and again on August 7, 2025, a federal court ordered the map to remain until 2030, retaining jurisdiction but declining to impose preclearance.