Alabama lawmakers pass plan for new US House primary if courts allow different districts

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — A national redistricting battle over U.S. House seats swung toward Republicans on Friday, as a Virginia court invalidated a Democratic gerrymandering effort and Republicans in Alabama approved plans for new primary elections if courts allow GOP-drawn House districts to be used in the November midterm elections.

The Alabama legislation, which was signed quickly into law by Republican Gov. Kay Ivey, is part of an effort by Republicans in Southern states to capitalize on a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that significantly weakened Voting Rights Act protections for minorities.

This page requires Javascript.

Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

kAmpE E96 p=232>2 $E2E69@FD6[ 2 492@E:4 D46?6 6CFAE65 2D @?6 AC@E6DE6C H2D 5C28865 7C@> E96 A24<65 w@FD6 82==6CJ 3J D64FC:EJ @77:46CD] #6AF3=:42? =2H>2<6CD :? {@F:D:2?2 2?5 $@FE9 r2C@=:?2 2=D@ 72465 DE2F?49 @AA@D:E:@? 7C@> 4:G:= C:89ED 24E:G:DED 2?5 s6>@4C2ED 2D E96J AC6D6?E65 A=2?D uC:52J E@ C65C2H E96:C 4@?8C6DD:@?2= 5:DEC:4ED]k^Am

kAm%96 24E:@? 42>6 ;FDE 2 52J 27E6C k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^C65:DEC:4E:?8\4@?8C6DD\G@E:?8\C:89ED\ECF>A\bb5b2ac2eb263`2_3bf_a5bea6`bad4hQm%6??6DD66 6?24E65k^2m ?6H 4@?8C6DD:@?2= 5:DEC:4ED E92E 42CG6 FA 2 s6>@4C2E:4\96=5[ q=24<\>2;@C:EJ 5:DEC:4E :? |6>A9:D] %96 DE2E6 s6>@4C2E:4 !2CEJ DF65 @? uC:52J[ D66<:?8 E@ AC6G6?E E96 5:DEC:4ED 7C@> 36:?8 FD65 F?E:= 27E6C E9:D J62CVD 6=64E:@?D 3642FD6 @7 E96 E:89E E:>6 7C2>6k^Am

kAmtG6? 367@C6 =2DE H66<VD $FAC6>6 r@FCE CF=:?8 :? 2 {@F:D:2?2 42D6[ #6AF3=:42?D 2?5 s6>@4C2ED 2=C625J H6C6 6?82865 :? 2 7:6C46 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^C65:DEC:4E:?8\9@FD6\4@?8C6DD\86CCJ>2?56C\G@E:?8\C:89ED\7fgb`_265bab37664bcb_7abe7f3e6_bQmC65:DEC:4E:?8 32EE=6k^2m[ 6249 D66<:?8 2? 6586 :? E96 >:5E6C> 6=64E:@?D E92E H:== 56E6C>:?6 4@?EC@= @7 E96 4=@D6=J 5:G:565 w@FD6] %92E 32EE=6 E:=E65 7FCE96C E@H2C5 #6AF3=:42?D H96? E96 ':C8:?:2 $FAC6>6 r@FCE CF=65 uC:52J E92E s6>@4C2E:4 =2H>2<6CD 925 G:@=2E65 4@?DE:EFE:@?2= C6BF:C6>6?ED H96? A=24:?8 2 C65:DEC:4E:?8 2>6?5>6?E @? E96 32==@E]k^Am

kAm$:?46 !C6D:56?E s@?2=5 %CF>A AC@5565 %6I2D E@ C65C2H :ED 4@?8C6DD:@?2= 5:DEC:4ED =2DE DF>>6C[ #6AF3=:42?D E9:?< E96J 4@F=5 82:? 2D >2?J 2D `c D62ED 7C@> ?6H 5:DEC:4ED :? D6G6C2= DE2E6D H9:=6 s6>@4C2ED E9:?< E96J 4@F=5 82:? FA E@ D:I D62ED] qFE E96 A2CE:6D >2J ?@E 86E 6G6CJE9:?8 E96J D@F89E[ 3642FD6 E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^86CCJ>2?56C:?8\4@?8C6DD\9@FD6\5:DEC:4ED\6=64E:@?\`ahgb4e5b5_c6h6`c`5e33ag4fh_fg42Qm86CCJ>2?56C:?8k^2m 4@F=5 324<7:C6 :? D@>6 9:89=J 4@>A6E:E:G6 5:DEC:4ED]k^Am

k9amp=232>2 AC:>2C:6D 4@F=5 36 :? 7=FIk^9am

kAms6>@?DEC2E@CD @FED:56 E96 p=232>2 $E2E69@FD6 @? uC:52J D9@FE65 “7:89E 7@C 56>@4C24J” 2?5 “5@H? H:E9 H9:E6 DFAC6>24J]”k^Am

kAm“x H2D @FE E96C6 :? `hed >2C49:?8 7@C E96 C:89E E@ G@E6[ 2?5 ?@H H6 2C6 324< 96C6 :? a_ae 5@:?8 E96 D2>6 E9:?8[” q6EEJ (9:E6 q@J?E@? D2:5]k^Am

kAmsFC:?8 5632E6 :?D:56 E96 DE2E69@FD6[ q=24< =2H>2<6CD D2:5 E96 #6AF3=:42? =68:D=2E:@? 92C<D 324< E@ E96 DE2E6’D D92>67F= y:> rC@H 9:DE@CJ] %96 ?6H =2H H@F=5 :8?@C6 E96 |2J `h AC:>2CJ C6DF=ED 7@C D@>6 4@?8C6DD:@?2= D62ED 2?5 5:C64E E96 8@G6C?@C E@ D4965F=6 2 ?6H AC:>2CJ F?56C C6G:D65 5:DEC:4ED[ :7 2 4@FCE 2==@HD :E] {2H>2<6CD 2=D@ 2AAC@G65 2 D:>:=2C 3:== C6=2E65 E@ DE2E6 $6?2E6 5:DEC:4ED]k^Am

kAm“(92E 92AA6?65 96C6 E@52J :D E92E H6 H6C6 D6E 324< 2D 2 A6@A=6 E@ E96 52JD @7 #64@?DECF4E:@?[” s6>@4C2E:4 DE2E6 $6?] #@586C $>:E96C>2? D2:5 27E6C E96 G@E6]k^Am

kAm$6?2E6 s6>@4C2ED D9@FE65 “96== ?@” 2?5 “DE@A E96 DE62=” 2D D6?2E@CD G@E65]k^Am

kAm%96 DA64:2= AC:>2CJ H@F=5 92AA6? @?=J :7 E96 4@FCED 28C66 E@ =:7E 2? :?;F?4E:@? E92E AFE 2 4@FCE\D6=64E65 >2A :? A=246 F?E:= 27E6C E96 a_b_ 46?DFD] %92E @C56C C6BF:C65 2 D64@?5 5:DEC:4E H96C6 q=24< G@E6CD 2C6 E96 >2;@C:EJ @C 4=@D6 E@ :E[ C6DF=E:?8 :? E96 a_ac 6=64E:@? @7 s6>@4C2E:4 #6A] $9@>2C: u:8FC6D[ H9@ :D q=24<] x7 2 4@FCE =:7ED E96 :?;F?4E:@?[ #6AF3=:42? @77:4:2=D H2?E E@ AFE :? A=246 2 >2A =2H>2<6CD 5C6H :? a_ab — H9:49 H2D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^2=232>2\C65:DEC:4E:?8\CF=:?8\3=24<\A@AF=2E:@?\2775f3eea7ed3_3ag52ca73gg7faa_f6QmC6;64E65 3J 2 7656C2= 4@FCEk^2m — E92E 4@F=5 2==@H E96> E@ C64=2:> u:8FC6D’ 5:DEC:4E]k^Am

kAm“(:E9 E9:D DA64:2= D6DD:@? DF446DD7F==J 369:?5 FD[ p=232>2 ?@H DE2?5D C625J E@ BF:4<=J 24E[ D9@F=5 E96 4@FCED :DDF6 72G@C23=6 CF=:?8D :? @FC @?8@:?8 C65:DEC:4E:?8 42D6D[” xG6J D2:5 :? 2 DE2E6>6?E]k^Am

kAm~? uC:52J 6G6?:?8[ 9@H6G6C[ 2 E9C66\;F586 A2?6= C6;64E65 p=232>2’D C6BF6DE E@ =:7E E96:C :?;F?4E:@? 2?5 A2G6 E96 H2J 7@C 492?8:?8 >2AD] %96 C6BF6DE C6>2:?D A6?5:?8 367@C6 E96 &]$] $FAC6>6 r@FCE]k^Am

k9am':C8:?:2 CF=:?8 46?E6C65 @? E:>:?8 @7 6=64E:@?k^9am

kAms6>@4C2ED 925 9@A65 E@ 82:? 2D >2?J 2D 7@FC 255:E:@?2= &]$] w@FD6 D62ED F?56C ?6H 5:DEC:4ED k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^G:C8:?:2\C65:DEC:4E:?8\6=64E:@?\4@?8C6DD\ECF>A\fg6_6eg`__``h_``3`3cbhebc7e3e72`Qm?2CC@H=J 2AAC@G65k^2m 3J G@E6CD :? pAC:=] qFE E96 DE2E6 $FAC6>6 r@FCE :?G2=:52E65 E96 >62DFC6 3642FD6 :E D2:5 E96 s6>@4C2E:4\=65 =68:D=2EFC6 G:@=2E65 AC@465FC2= C6BF:C6>6?ED]k^Am

kAm%@ A=246 2 4@?DE:EFE:@?2= 2>6?5>6?E 367@C6 G@E6CD[ E96 ':C8:?:2 r@?DE:EFE:@? C6BF:C6D =2H>2<6CD E@ 2AAC@G6 :E :? EH@ D6A2C2E6 =68:D=2E:G6 D6DD:@?D[ H:E9 2 DE2E6 6=64E:@? D2?5H:4965 :? 36EH66?] %96 =68:D=2EFC6’D :?:E:2= 2AAC@G2= @7 E96 C65:DEC:4E:?8 2>6?5>6?E @44FCC65 =2DE ~4E@36C — H9:=6 62C=J G@E:?8 H2D F?56CH2J 3FE 367@C6 :E 4@?4=F565 7@C E96 86?6C2= 6=64E:@?] %96 =68:D=2EFC6’D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^G:C8:?:2\=2H>2<6CD\25G2?46\C65:DEC:4E:?8\A=2?D\b5gba7_2b_ca_fdf3g5h4aabacd4d45_QmD64@?5 G@E6 @? E96 2>6?5>6?Ek^2m @44FCC65 27E6C 2 ?6H =68:D=2E:G6 D6DD:@? 3682? :? y2?F2CJ]k^Am

kAm%96 DE2E6 $FAC6>6 r@FCE D2:5 E96 :?:E:2= =68:D=2E:G6 2AAC@G2= 42>6 E@@ =2E6[ ?@E:?8 E92E >@C6 E92? `]b >:==:@? 32==@ED 2=C625J 925 366? 42DE[ 23@FE c_T @7 E96 E@E2= G@E6D F=E:>2E6=J 42DE]k^Am

k9am{@F:D:2?2 =2H>2<6CD =@@< 2E >2A @AE:@?Dk^9am

kAmp {@F:D:2?2 $6?2E6 4@>>:EE66 4@?D:56C65 D6G6C2= C65:DEC:4E:?8 @AE:@?D uC:52J 7C@> #6AF3=:42? DE2E6 $6?] y@9? “y2J” |@CC:D E92E H@F=5 6=:>:?2E6 6:E96C 3@E9 @C @?6 @7 E96 4FCC6?E q=24<\>2;@C:EJ &]$] w@FD6 5:DEC:4ED]k^Am

kAm“tG6CJ @?6 @7 E96D6 >2AD C65F46D q=24< G@E:?8 A@H6C :? 6G6CJ @?6 @7 E96 5:DEC:4ED] p?5 x E9:?< E92E’D 2 AC@3=6>[” s6>@4C2E:4 DE2E6 $6?] $2> y6?<:?D E@=5 |@CC:D]k^Am

kAm|@CC:D 56?:65 E92E E96 AC@A@D65 C65:DEC:4E:?8 >2AD H6C6 C24:2==J 5:D4C:>:?2E@CJ] w6 D2:5 9:D 8@2= H2D E@ 36 “C6DA64E7F= @7 E96 EC25:E:@?2= 3@F?52C:6D” @7 E96 DE2E6’D D:I 4@?8C6DD:@?2= 5:DEC:4ED]k^Am

kAm“x 5@?’E E9:?< H6 D9@F=5 42C6 E92E >F49 23@FE C246[” |@CC:D D2:5]k^Am

kAm%96 @?=J 7@FC q=24< 4@?8C6DD>6? H9@ 92G6 C6AC6D6?E65 {@F:D:2?2 D:?46 E96 6?5 @7 E96 #64@?DECF4E:@? 6C2 2AA62=65 E@ DE2E6 D6?2E@CD E@ <66A EH@ >2;@C:EJ\q=24< 5:DEC:4ED :? 2 DE2E6 H96C6 @?6\E9:C5 @7 G@E6CD 2C6 q=24<]k^Am

kAm{6@?2 %2E6 D2:5 D96 H2D 6D4@CE65 2D 2 e\J62C\@=5 8:C= 3J 7656C2= >2CD92=D E9C@F89 2 C24:DE H9:E6 >@3 ECJ:?8 E@ AC6G6?E 96C 7C@> 56D68C682E:?8 2 }6H ~C=62?D 6=6>6?E2CJ D49@@=] $96 E@=5 =2H>2<6CD D96 76=E E96J H6C6 E2<:?8 2 DE6A 324<H2C5 :? E:>6 3J C65F4:?8 q=24< A@=:E:42= A@H6C]k^Am

kAm“*@F 92G6 2 49@:46 :? 7C@?E @7 J@Fi *@F 42? 5C2H 2 >2A E92E C67=64ED H92E {@F:D:2?2 24EF2==J :D \\ 2 DE2E6 H96C6 q=24< G@:46D 36=@?8 :? E96 92==D @7 r@?8C6DD[” D2:5 %2E6[ f`] “~C J@F 42? 5C2H 2 >2A E92E E6==D >J 8C2?549:=5C6? E92E E96:C G@E6D 5@?’E 4@F?E[ E92E E96:C 7246D 5@?’E >2EE6C 2?5 E92E E96 AC@8C6DD x 96=A65 3F:=5 H:E9 >J @H? EH@ 766E 2D 2 e\J62C\@=5 42? 36 6C2D65 2E H:==]”k^Am

k9am$@FE9 r2C@=:?2 4@?D:56CD 2 w@FD6 >2Ak^9am

kAm$@FE9 r2C@=:?2 =2H>2<6CD 96=5 2 C2C6 uC:52J >66E:?8 E@ 5:D4FDD 2 AC@A@D65 ?6H 4@?8C6DD:@?2= >2A :?E6?565 E@ 2==@H #6AF3=:42?D 2 4=62? DH66A @7 E96 DE2E6’D D6G6? &]$] w@FD6 D62ED]k^Am

kAm%96 w@FD6 962C:?8 H2D E96 7:CDE DE6A :? C65:DEC:4E:?8] qFE :ED 7FEFC6 C6>2:?D >FC<J] %96 DE2E6 $6?2E6 92D J6E E@ 28C66 E@ 4@?D:56C ?6H 5:DEC:4ED =2E6C E9:D >@?E9[ 2? 24E:@? E92E C6BF:C6D 2 EH@\E9:C5D G@E6]k^Am

kAm%96 ?6H >2A 92D D@>6 #6AF3=:42?D ?6CG@FD] qC62<:?8 FA E96 eE9 s:DEC:4E[ C6AC6D6?E65 3J s6>@4C2E:4 &]$] #6A] y:> r=J3FC?[ >2<6D E96 @E96C D:I 5:DEC:4ED =6DD #6AF3=:42?]k^Am

kAmpE uC:52J’D DF34@>>:EE66 >66E:?8[ =2H>2<6CD 962C5 9@FCD @7 E6DE:>@?J[ 2=>@DE 2== 282:?DE E96 ?6H >2A] %96 962C:?8 :?4=F565 2 4@?DF=E2?E H9@ C6G:6H65 E96 >2A[ D2J:?8 :E 2AA62C65 E@ 36 =682= F?56C E96 $FAC6>6 r@FCEVD 564:D:@? :? E96 {@F:D:2?2 42D6]k^Am

kAm“x 28C66 :7 E96 =2H 2==@HD FD E@ 5@ :E[ E96? H6 42? 5@ xE[” s6>@4C2E:4 DE2E6 #6A] yFDE:? q2>36C8 D2:5] “qFE x 42? D=2A D@>63@5J’D >2>2 2?5 :E’D ?@E E96 C:89E E9:?8 E@ 5@]”k^Am

kAm$@>6 23D6?E66 32==@ED 2=C625J 92G6 366? C6EFC?65 7@C E96 DE2E6VD yF?6 h AC:>2CJ 6=64E:@?D] %96 =68:D=2E:G6 DF34@>>:EE66 25G2?465 2 A=2? E@ 56=2J E96 4@?8C6DD:@?2= AC:>2CJ E@ pF8FDE 2?5 C6@A6? 2 42?5:52E6 7:=:?8 A6C:@5[ :7 2 ?6H >2A :D 2AAC@G65]k^Am

k9C ^m

kAmr@==:?D C6A@CE65 7C@> r@=F>3:2[ $@FE9 r2C@=:?2j qC@@< 7C@> q2E@? #@F86[ {@F:D:2?2j 2?5 {:63 7C@> y6776CD@? r:EJ[ |:DD@FC:] p! C6A@CE6C %C2G:D {@==6C 4@?EC:3FE65 7C@> }2D9G:==6[ %6??6DD66]k^Am

Newsletters

Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.

Error! There was an error processing your request.

News Alerts

Get the latest need-to-know information delivered to your inbox as it happens.

The Daily

Our flagship newsletter. Get our front page stories each morning as well as the latest updates each afternoon during the week + more in-depth weekend editions on Saturdays & Sundays.

You must select at least one email list.

Please enter a valid email address.

Manage your lists

Alabama lawmakers pass plan for new US House primary if courts allow different districts

Alabama lawmakers have approved a plan for new U.S. House primaries if courts allow the state to use different congressional districts in this year’s elections

Stay Connected

Services

Rate:
Begins:
Transaction ID:

Log In Using Your Account

Newsletters

News Alerts

The Daily

Tags

Stay Connected

Services

Sign Up

You're all set!

Log In

Reset Password

Forgot Password

Email me a log in link

Promotional Offers

Purchase Gift Purchase Access

You're all set!

An error occurred