Here’s how Alabama leaders are reacting to the Supreme Court’s redistricting ruling

WASHINGTON — After the Supreme Court paved the way for Alabama to revert to a previous congressional map, potentially eliminating a Democrat-held seat, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall declared Monday’s ruling a “major victory.”

While Democratic Rep. Shomari Figures, who could potentially lose his seat if the lower court rules in the state’s favor, said the decision “sets the stage for Alabama to go back to the 1950s and 60s in terms of Black political representation in the state.”

Monday’s ruling comes after the Supreme Court gutted a major section of the Voting Rights Act late last month, striking down a majority-Black district in Louisiana as an unconstitutional racial gerrymander.

Marshall, who led the efforts to lift the injunctions preventing Alabama from using its 2023 congressional map, said the nation’s highest court “vindicated” its position.

“Now, the power to draw Alabama’s maps goes back to the people’s elected representatives. That’s our Legislature,” Marshall said in a video statement.

Figures highlighted that the ruling is not the final step, as the Supreme Court sent the case back to the lower court for review.

“My hope is that this is a temporary setback and that three-Republican appointed judges will again find what they found the first time: that the State of Alabama intentionally discriminated against Black voters in drawing its congressional district lines,” Figures said in a statement.

The congressman from Mobile also vowed that he’s “not backing down.”

Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen, who was part of the legal efforts to lift the injunctions, said the Supreme Court delivered a “historic win for Alabama voters.”

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“The May 19 Primary Election will proceed as scheduled,” Allen said. “My Office will remain in close contact with the Governor’s Office and the Attorney General’s Office as this situation continues developing.”

In a statement, Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Birmingham, said the decision is “another direct attack on Black voters in Alabama.”

“Black Alabamians have fought too hard and sacrificed too much to be dragged backward by extremist politicians and an activist Court,” she said. “Black voters make up nearly one-third of Alabama’s electorate and we deserve no less than two seats where we can select a candidate of our choice.”

If the 2023 map is allowed to be used, the 1st, 2nd, 6th and 7th Congressional districts would be impacted. Gov. Kay Ivey signed legislation last week allowing special primaries for those four districts if the courts take action.

But in his response to the ruling, Marshall alluded to the desire of some Republicans in Alabama to redraw an entirely new congressional map to favor seven Republicans. But it’s not clear how or if that could happen this year.

“My job in this office was to put the Legislature in the best possible legal position to draw a congressional map that favors Republicans seven to zero,” Marshall said.

Senate President Pro Tem Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman, said the ruling reinforces why the recent special session was necessary.

“The Supreme Court’s action removes the thumb from the scale in legislative and congressional elections and allows Republicans to once again have a fair chance to compete,” Gudger said.

“As a result of the successful special session that was completed last week, our upcoming elections will more accurately reflect the principles, beliefs, and values that average Alabamians hold close, and our state will be in full compliance with the Louisiana v. Callais ruling.”