Governor Kay Ivey (R) takes a victory lap on the state’s redistricting battle and calls for a special election to vote on Alabama's redrawn districts that were formerly majority-minority.
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey calls a Special Primary Election on August 11, for the 1st, 2nd, 6th and 7th congressional districts Under The New Map
— OSZ (@OpenSourceZone) May 12, 2026
New Map:
🔴 Republicans: 6 (+1)
🔵 Democrats: 1 (-1) pic.twitter.com/ydqVN1Ujap
Ivey wrote in a press release:
Governor Kay Ivey on Tuesday celebrated the United States Supreme Court’s decision to vacate the court-ordered congressional map, allowing for the use of the 2023 Alabama-drawn congressional map.
“I will continue to say: Alabama knows our state, our people and our districts best. The United States Supreme Court’s decision is plain common sense and enables our values to be best represented in Congress,” said Governor Ivey. “For years, we have fought for this outcome, and I am proud to celebrate this win for Alabamians.”
Following last week’s successful special session and this victory at the U.S. Supreme Court, Governor Ivey is now taking the next step by calling a Special Primary Election for the affected congressional districts, the 1st, 2nd, 6th and 7th.
For my Alabamians, and those who have no clue about how the state votes, the majority of us are still voting on May 19 (one week) for our local, regional, and congressional members. Here is another reason why Alabama could be nimble: While we have absentee voting, where you request a ballot to fill out ahead of time because you will not be able to make it to a poll on election day, Alabama does not have early voting. It's one day. Having come from a state that had election months, it is much less confusing and also allows registrars to move quickly should a change need to happen.
Ivey continued:
“As I said at the close of our special session last week, Alabama now stands ready to quickly act. I thank Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter and Pro Tem Garlan Gudger for their focus last week that has allowed us to be in this strong position to move forward with our 2023 Alabama-drawn congressional map,” stated Governor Ivey.
As RedState reported, ahead of Monday's SCOTUS decision to vacate the lower court ruling, on Friday, the Alabama legislature passed, and Gov. Ivey signed into law, two bills to restore the race-neutral 2023 maps. The bills also tasked Gov. Ivey to call a special election to decide the congressional seats of those districts that had previously been gerrymandered. Now that the court rulings have mostly been sorted out, Ivey is free to set that special primary election, which will be on Tuesday, August 11, 2026.
Read More: New: Alabama Is Free to Redraw Its Maps After SCOTUS Vacates District Court Ruling
Alabama AG Petitions SCOTUS to Use Maps Stripped of Gerrymandered Districts, Justice Thomas Responds
This will give time for candidates who wish to run for these congressional seats to qualify — for the first time in a long time, these districts will now be competitive.
“Alabamians now have another opportunity to send strong voices to Washington to fight for our values, and I encourage them to get out and vote in this special primary election on August 11. I also urge them to head to the polls this coming Tuesday, May 19 to vote in all other races. We are experiencing strong momentum in Alabama, and I am very optimistic for our future.”
While Rep. Terri Sewell (D-07) appears to be safe, Rep. Shomari Figures (D-02) will now be required to campaign to keep the District 2 seat. Since the map reinstitution, Figures has at least one Republican challenger. Now that candidates have to qualify for the August 11 primary, Sewell may also get a Republican competitor. Despite her bombast, Sewell is not a popular representative. In this atmosphere, she shouldn't get too complacent.
Republican Jerry Carl will run in Alabama’s 1st congressional district and Republican Rhett Marques will run in Alabama’s 2nd congressional district following new map.
— Politics & Poll Tracker 📡 (@PollTracker2024) May 12, 2026
Both were frontrunners in Alabama’s 1st congressional district before newly enacted map. https://t.co/sNBkjhMGEJ pic.twitter.com/A4MwoMFX70
This is probably the most excitement Alabamians have had in decades. Despite leftists wailing and crying that President Donald Trump wants to cancel the November midterms, it will occur as planned on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, for Alabama, and everyone else.
Editor’s Note: The 2026 Midterms will determine the fate of President Trump’s America First agenda. Republicans must maintain control of both chambers of Congress.
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