Progressive activist group League of Women Voters of Alabama spent Friday lambasting the announcement of Alabama’s redistricting special session as “an embarrassment.”

On Saturday, former State Auditor and PSC candidate Jim Zeigler said he wouldn’t participate in an upcoming debate among candidates for the Alabama Public Service Commission hosted by a group that is “a front for the Democrat Party.”

In their statement, the LWV accused the Legislature of “seeking to redraw” Alabama’s congressional map “to eliminate Black representation in a state where Black residents make up more than a quarter of the population.”

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled the opposite in last week’s Louisiana v. Callais decision, finding that race-based redistricting is unconstitutional.

Zeigler announced over the weekend was out on LWV’s event on principle.

“I will not lend credibility to an organization that is fighting the proper districting of Alabama’s congressional districts. I stand in favor of returning the districting power to the elected representatives of the people of Alabama and taking it away from the federal courts,” he said.

“The League of Women Voters is now a front for the Democrat Party, and I will not stand on the stage at their forum. I will continue taking my case directly to Alabama voters and ratepayers, and I welcome any debate hosted by a neutral body.”

Last week, Governor Ivey officially called the session after the U.S. Supreme Court’s Louisiana v. Callais ruling, which presents the strongest opportunity yet for Alabama Republicans to redraw the state’s congressional map without federal court interference, reflective of the entire state’s political character.

State legislators will gavel in today at 4 p.m.

Zeigler faces Chris Beeker, Brent Woodall, and Priscilla Andrews in the May 19 Republican primary.

Grayson Everett is the editor in chief of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270.