Montgomery, Alabama - Alabama Governor Kay Ivey has signed legislation into law allowing the state to hold a new House primary if the courts approve a GOP-led redistricting plan for the 2026 midterm elections.
The legislation comes following the Supreme Court's decision in late April to strictly limit the use of race in the redrawing of electoral districts, effectively severing the Voting Rights Acts' ability to protect minorities.
In response to the Supreme Court decision, Alabama moved swiftly to push through a GOP-led redistricting package which will favor the Republican party in November.
If the plan is approved and the new map is used in the upcoming general elections, Alabama will need to hold a new round of primaries to select the candidates.
Ivey's legislation allows this to happen, pushing forward a plan allowing a special election in certain congressional and state senate districts.
"With this special session successfully behind us, Alabama now stands ready to quickly act, should the courts issue favorable rulings in our ongoing redistricting cases," Ivey said in a statement on Friday.
"I thank the Legislature for answering my call to address the issue in fast order," she said. "Alabama knows our state, our people, and our districts best."
Republicans aim to retain control of US House through redistricting
Several Republican states are scrambling to improve their midterm prospects through mid-cycle redistricting.
On Thursday, for example, Tennessee's GOP-controlled state legislature approved a redistricting plan which specifically breaks up a majority-Black district in Memphis.
Louisiana is also looking to suspend House primaries and push through a new congressional map ahead of the midterms, a decision which the Supreme Court assisted by expediting the changes it made to the Voting Rights Act.