As civil rights advocates protest, Republican lawmakers in several Southern states are seizing on the opportunity afforded by a U.S. Supreme Court ruling to redraw congressional districts ahead of the November midterm elections.
In Alabama, Republican lawmakers pressed ahead with a plan that could upend the state’s congressional primaries. And Republican leaders in South Carolina announced Tuesday that would try to eliminate a House district held by a longtime Black Democratic lawmaker.
Louisiana lawmakers also are making plans for new U.S. House districts after the Supreme Court last week struck down the state’s current map.
Eight states already have adopted new U.S. districts ahead of the midterms. From that, Republicans think they could gain as many as 13 seats in five states, while Democrats think they could gain up to 10 seats from new districts in three other states. But some of the new districts could be competitive in November, meaning the parties may not get all they sought.
The newly proposed redistricting in Southern states could add to the Republicans’ tally.
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