Alabama Moves Special Primary Bills Forward Amid Ongoing Court Fight Over 2023 Map

*TL;DR: Alabama lawmakers passed bills to trigger special primaries in four congressional districts and two state Senate districts if courts lift injunctions on the 2023 congressional map and the 2021 Senate map.*

Context The state Senate’s County and Municipal Government Committee and the House Ways and Means General Fund Committee each approved a contingency bill on Thursday. Both measures would vacate the May 19 primaries in the affected districts and set a schedule for special primaries, but they take effect only if a federal court removes the injunctions that currently block the use of the 2023 congressional map and the 2021 state Senate map.

Key Facts - The Senate committee passed House Bill 1, a party‑line vote, creating a fallback plan for congressional primaries. If the 2023 map is reinstated, districts 1, 2, 6 and 7 would be redrawn, forcing special elections in those four seats. - The House committee passed Senate Bill 1, mirroring the congressional plan for state Senate districts 25 and 26 in the Montgomery area, which would also require special primaries under the same court‑dependent scenario. - Rep. Shomari Figures, a Democrat who won his seat in 2024 after a court‑ordered map added Black voting strength, warned that Black voters deserve representation beyond “the football fields of Tuscaloosa and Auburn.” He framed the bills as a moral issue, not a personal defense. - After the votes, protesters shouted “end white supremacy” and “we’ve got the power,” echoing the heightened tension surrounding the maps. - Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall filed emergency motions with the U.S. Supreme Court and a federal district court, seeking rapid review of the injunctions after the Supreme Court’s recent decision in *Louisiana v. Callais* weakened a core provision of the Voting Rights Act. - Public comment featured strong opposition from Democrats, students at Tuskegee University and other Alabamians who argued that the bills threaten equal representation and could jeopardize scholarships and resources.

What It Means The bills now await full chamber votes on Friday morning. If passed, they will not alter the May 19 primary schedule unless a court clears the way for the 2023 congressional map and the 2021 Senate map. A court decision to reinstate the 2023 map would redraw four congressional districts, potentially displacing Rep. Figures and prompting special elections. The same logic applies to the two state Senate districts, which could see new boundaries and a delayed primary.

Looking Ahead Watch for the full Senate and House votes on Friday and any subsequent rulings from the federal courts that will determine whether Alabama proceeds with the special primary contingency or retains the existing primary calendar.