The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday in a 5-4 ruling halted a lower court’s decision to force Alabama to redraw its congressional district map prior to proceeding with the state’s 2022 elections.
The high court’s ruling allows the state to prepare its appeal of the lower federal court’s determination that Alabama’s refreshed congressional map likely violates the Voting Rights Act by not providing fair representation to minority citizens.
Had the Supreme Court ruled against the state, there was a possibility that U.S. Reps. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) and Jerry Carl (R-Mobile) would have been redrawn into the same district, setting the stage for a primary election between the South Alabama congressmen.
Moore in a statement commended the high court’s decision and welcomed the fact that he will not face a challenger in the upcoming Republican primary election.
“I’m pleased the Supreme Court blocked this terrible ruling from activist judges and will allow our election to move forward,” stated Moore. “I’m especially grateful that the people of the Wiregrass have affirmed the work I am doing for them and that I will not face a primary challenger. This election is too consequential for Republicans to play into Nancy Pelosi’s hands and fight against proven conservatives, and with this behind us I look forward to focusing on November and helping Republican candidates across the nation as we fight to take the majority from radical Democrats.”
Carl, also running unopposed, applauded the Supreme Court for allowing the elections to move forward without having to adhere to the lower court’s order.
“Today’s announcement by the Supreme Court is great news for Alabama and the First Congressional District, and I applaud the Supreme Court for siding with the GOP on the decision to uphold Alabama’s election map,” proclaimed Carl. “I’m also excited to announce I will be running unopposed in the May 24, 2022, Republican primary election. Serving south Alabama in Congress has been the honor of a lifetime, and I am grateful to my constituents for giving me the opportunity to bring their values to Washington and continue the fight against the Biden/Pelosi agenda.”
According to U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville), the legal challenge against Alabama’s congressional map mirrored attempts across the nation by Democrats to redraw district lines in the party’s favor.
“I applaud the Supreme Court for this decision. Making wholesale changes to the Congressional maps this late into the 2022 election cycle would have caused chaos, not just for the state’s election officials, but for all Alabama voters,” advised Aderholt. “I’m confident these lines, which were fairly drawn, will stand for this next decade. It is clear, that the challenge to these lines is part of a coordinated effort across the nation to challenge Republican-drawn lines. At the same time, we are seeing dramatic gerrymandering in Democrat-led states, like New York, to eliminate Republican districts. “
U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) praised the Supreme Court in blocking what he referred to as the lower court’s “racist” order which he asserted was illegally premised on racial outcomes.
“Activist federal judges ignored established law to usurp Congressional maps drawn by Alabama’s elected legislators,” declared Brooks. “It is great news the U.S. Supreme Court stayed the racist and illegal interventionist order because ‘the merits (were not) clearcut in favor of the plaintiff’ and the liberal, activist three-judge panel order violated the requirement that their order not cause ‘significant cost, confusion, or hardship’ to Alabama’s election processes.”
Brooks continued, “Most importantly, the Supreme Court agreed to consider the three-judge order’s merits at a later time, without radically disrupting the 2022 election process that is well underway. Hopefully, the Supreme Court will then reject, not promote, racism.”
Alabama’s lone congressional Democrat, U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (D-Birmingham), suggested that the court’s ruling was a setback for minority voting power.
“Today’s Supreme Court order is yet another blow to the fight for fair Black political representation that is at the heart of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA),” stated Sewell. “The ruling allows the votes of Black Alabamians to be diluted and further undermines Section 2 of the VRA. This order underscores the urgent need for Congress to enact my bill—the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act—which would restore much-needed federal oversight to ensure that minority voters are fairly represented. Black Alabamians deserve nothing less.”
Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL
