Biden, others react as SCOTUS orders Alabama to redraw congressional districts

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) - Reaction is coming in after the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling Thursday that orders Alabama to redraw its congressional map to create a second majority Black district.

In a 5-4 decision, with Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh joining the court’s liberals, the Supreme Court affirming a lower court ruling that found a likely violation of the Voting Rights Act in the state’s recently drawn map.

The Legislature retained a single majority Black district in its 2021 drawing despite African Americans making up more than a quarter of the state’s population. During that redistricting special session, Alabama Democrats presented three different options for new maps, but none have two minority districts.

The finalized map was challenged in court as being racially gerrymandered. It was ultimately picked up by the nation’s highest court in early 2022, but justices stayed a lower court’s order that the map be immediately redrawn. That stay allowed for the map to be used to govern the 2022 elections while the case made its way through the court’s docket.

The judges ultimately found that spreading Black residents out among districts makes it much more difficult to elect more than one candidate of their choice. Instead, Alabama’s Black population is large enough and geographically compact enough to create a second district, the judges found.

The state argued that drawing a new map would force it to sort voters by race and insisted it was taking a “race neutral” approach to redistricting. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey was unavailable for comment Thursday as her office reviews the Supreme Court’s ruling.

Lawmakers will have to enter into another special session to redraw the map, which will be used in the 2024 elections.

Evan Milligan, who is named in the case Allen v. Milligan, called the ruling a win for democracy and freedom across the country.

MORE REACTION

“Today the Court ruled that Alabama likely violated the Voting Rights Act by drawing a map that diluted Black votes in the state. The right to vote and have that vote counted is sacred and fundamental — it is the right from which all of our other rights spring. Key to that right is ensuring that voters pick their elected officials — not the other way around. Today’s decision confirms the basic principle that voting practices should not discriminate on account of race, but our work is not done. Vice President Harris and I will continue to fight to pass both the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to restore and strengthen the Voting Rights Act, and the Freedom to Vote Act to ensure fair Congressional maps and that all Americans have their voices heard.”

—  President Joe Biden

“I am disappointed in today’s Supreme Court opinion but it remains the commitment of the Secretary of State’s Office to comply with all applicable election laws.”

—  Wes Allen, Alabama Secretary of State

“Today’s decision by the US Supreme Court to strike down Alabama’s Congressional map vindicates the rights of voters to have the opportunity to elect candidates of choice throughout our state. During a severely short and limited mapdrawing process, our Caucus spoke at length about our view of the law and provided ways the state could craft at least two districts that reflect fair political opportunities for African American voters. We are therefore pleased that the Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the unanimous district court which found the Alabama maps were discriminatory. We stand ready to participate meaningfully with our colleagues to create a new map that fully complies with the law.”

—  Rep. Anthony Daniels, Alabama House Minority Leader

“This is a historic victory, not only for Black voters in Alabama, but for Democracy itself. With this decision, the Supreme Court is saying loudly and clearly that the voices of minority voters matter and that fair representation must be upheld. I know that John Lewis and the Foot Soldiers of the Voting Rights Movement are smiling as they look down on us. Today, their sacrifice was rewarded. Our work is not over. We must continue the fight for fair representation by passing the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to restore the full protections of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.”

—  U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Ala., District 7

“As the only Alabama city to sign the amicus brief, Montgomery once again made history. The resounding voice of the South is heard! I am hopeful about Alabama’s future in light of today’s Supreme Court ruling that protects Black voters, and I applaud the work of the Alabama heroes who are plaintiffs in this case. The right to vote and have equitable representation stands as a cornerstone of our democracy.”

—  Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed

“The Alabama Republican Party is disappointed in the ruling by the United States Supreme Court. The U.S. Constitution is clear that drawing district lines – as well as redistricting – are the responsibility of state legislatures. Regardless of our disagreement with the Court’s decision, we are confident the Alabama Legislature will redraw district lines that ensure the people of Alabama are represented by members who share their beliefs, while following the requirements of applicable law. The Alabama Republican Party remains committed to competing in every district, and will work hard to win all seven Congressional seats with candidates that reflect their communities and the values of the State of Alabama.”

—  Alabama GOP Chairman John Wahl

“This is a HUGE victory for those who fight every day for equality in voting rights. The SCOTUS agreed that Alabama maps did not provide for African Americans in Alabama to elect a person of their choice to represent them in Congress. We will continue to fight for the right to vote and ensure that African Americans have unfettered access to the ballot. We renew our call for Congress to immediately restore Section 4b of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 by reintroducing and passing the John Lewis Voting Rights Act or similar legislation that will further ensure equal access to the ballot.”

—  Benard Simelton, President of the Alabama NAACP

“Today, in another Alabama case, Allen v Milligan, the Supreme Court took a step in the right direction by preserving Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act and by blocking the racially gerrymandered Congressional map drawn by a super majority GOP party that sought to again silence the political power of Black voters in Alabama. As the Supreme Court noted, the previous map was drawn with intentional discrimination in mind, diluting the power of Black voters and perpetuating systemic racism.”

—  Cliff Albright and LaTosha Brown, co-founders of Black Voters Matter and April England-Albright, Legal Director of Black Voters Matter

“This ruling comes at a critical juncture in our nation's history, as voter suppression efforts and discriminatory practices continue to threaten the fundamental principle of one person, one vote. The decision serves as a beacon of hope, inspiring renewed confidence in the strength and resilience of our democracy and the power of the people’s voice.”

—  Anneshia Hardy, Executive Director of Alabama Values

“The key takeaway from today’s decision is the court’s acknowledgment that the Alabama Legislature knowingly continued its legacy of drawing illegal voting districts that disenfranchise Black voters. The Alabama Legislature must now draw new, fairer voting districts. Though we were victorious today, history shows us that lawmakers will erect many more hurdles before every Alabamian, irrespective of their race, can vote for representatives that reflect their beliefs, values, and priorities. Efforts remain underway from Montgomery to Jackson to Baton Rouge, and elsewhere across the country to minimize, marginalize, and eliminate the ability of Black and brown people to have a voice in their communities. Our communities then — as now — understand that the fight to uphold our civil rights is a daily pursuit. We will persist.”

—  Tish Gotell Faulks, ACLU of Alabama’s legal director

“This decision is a crucial win against the continued onslaught of attacks on voting rights. Alabama attempted to rewrite federal law by saying race had no place in redistricting. But because of the state’s sordid and well-documented history of racial discrimination, race must be used to remedy that past and ensure communities of color are not boxed out of the electoral process. While the Voting Rights Act and other key protections against discriminatory voting laws have been weakened in recent years and states continue to pass provisions to disenfranchise Black voters, today’s decision is a recognition of Section 2’s purpose to prevent voting discrimination and the very basic right to a fair shot.”

—  Duel Ross, Senior Counsel, Legal Defense Fund

EDITOR’S NOTE: Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed’s statement has been updated to remove a portion in which it appeared to indicate his father, Joe L. Reed, was a plaintiff in this particular case.

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