Alabama Gov. Ivey Signs Bill to Trigger Special Primaries if GOP Redistricting Approved

Alabama’s regular primaries are scheduled for May 19 under the current congressional and state Senate maps. The new law gives the governor authority to schedule separate special primaries for any district that a court orders to be redrawn after the GOP‑controlled legislature’s request to replace the court‑ordered map.

The legislation emerged after a U.S. Supreme Court decision limited the use of race in redistricting, prompting Alabama Republicans to ask a federal court—and the Supreme Court—to allow a 2023 map that would reduce the number of majority‑Black districts from two to one. The existing map, imposed by a federal judge, created a majority‑Black seat in the 7th Congressional District and a Black‑opportunity seat in the 2nd District, reflecting that roughly 25% of the state’s population is Black.

Governor Ivey emphasized state expertise, saying, “Alabama knows our state, our people and our districts best.” House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter hailed the bill as a guarantee that the 2nd District will return to Republican control and that the 7th District will become competitive. He framed the current map as a “racially gerrymandered disgrace” and noted that legal constraints from the Supreme Court case *Allen v. Milligan* prevent a swift redraw like Tennessee’s recent map change.

If a court clears the GOP’s request, the law would trigger special primaries in the affected districts, effectively resetting the candidate field before the general election. Democrats currently hold the two Black‑majority seats, represented by Reps. Terri Sewell and Shomari Figures. State Senator Vivan Davis Figures warned that the debate is “about democracy itself,” questioning whether partisan advantage outweighs principle.

The move places Alabama among a wave of Southern states—Tennessee, Louisiana, South Carolina—scrambling to adjust district lines before the 2024 midterms, where control of the U.S. House of Representatives hangs in the balance. Watch for court rulings on the redistricting request and any subsequent special primary dates that could reshape the November ballot.