Supreme Court's surprise Voting Rights Act ruling could help Democrats retake the House
The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 on Thursday that Alabama's gerrymandered congressional map violated the Voting Rights Act by depriving Black voters of adequate opportunity to select House members to represent them. Alabama's Republican-controlled Legislature drew new congressional maps in 2021 that left only one of the state's seven districts majority-Black, even though Black voters make up about 27% of Alabama's electorate.
The ruling was something of a surprise. A federal appellate court had ordered Alabama to redraw its map for the 2022 midterms, but the Supreme Court had stepped in and halted the order. And the court has only gotten more conservative since it gutted key parts of the Voting Rights Act in 2013 and again in 2020. But Chief Justice John Roberts, who wrote the 2013 opinion that struck down the heart of the landmark 1965 law, and Justice Brett Kavanaugh joined the court's three liberals and preserved Section 2 of Voting Right Acts from Alabama's challenge.
Practically speaking, Thursday's ruling, Allen v. Milligan, will likely net Democrats a House seat in the 2024 election, and maybe two more seats if similar frozen cases in Louisiana and Georgia move forward expeditiously. It could also ripple into Texas, South Carolina, and other Southern states. Cook Political Report already shifted five 2024 House races toward Democrats after the Supreme Court ruling. House Republicans will be defending a narrow five-seat majority in 2024.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"The next year was already set to include a ferocious series of remapping fights in states across the country," Politico noted. "Republicans are plotting to redraw congressional districts in North Carolina and Ohio, a process that could more than double the GOP's five-seat House majority, and New York and Wisconsin Democrats hope to tilt maps back to their favor."
Democrats and voting rights advocates said the support from Roberts and Kavanaugh seemed tenuous, but they welcomed the survival of what's left of the Voting Rights Act. "I think Alabama and all of the Southern states that might likewise be impacted by this ruling have something to rejoice about," said Rep. Troy Carter (D-La.). "The battle's not over, but it's definitely a step in the right direction and better than we were yesterday."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
7 beautiful towns to visit in Switzerland during the holidays
The Week Recommends Find bliss in these charming Swiss locales that blend the traditional with the modern
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
The Week contest: Werewolf bill
Puzzles and Quizzes
By The Week US Published
-
'This needs to be a bigger deal'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
GOP's Mace seeks federal anti-trans bathroom ban
Speed Read Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina has introduced legislation to ban transgender people from using federal facilities
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Ukraine fires ATACMS, Russia ups hybrid war
Speed Read Ukraine shot U.S.-provided long-range missiles and Russia threatened retaliation
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
New York DA floats 4-year Trump sentencing freeze
Speed Read President-elect Donald Trump's sentencing is on hold, and his lawyers are pushing to dismiss the case while he's in office
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Wyoming judge strikes down abortion, pill bans
Speed Read The judge said the laws — one of which was a first-in-the-nation prohibition on the use of medication to end pregnancy — violated the state's constitution
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US sanctions Israeli West Bank settler group
Speed Read The Biden administration has imposed sanctions on Amana, Israel's largest settlement development organization
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Gaetz ethics report in limbo as sex allegations emerge
Speed Read A lawyer representing two women alleges that Matt Gaetz paid them for sex, and one witnessed him having sex with minor
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Biden allows Ukraine to hit deep in Russia
Speed Read The U.S. gave Ukraine the green light to use ATACMS missiles supplied by Washington, a decision influenced by Russia's escalation of the war with North Korean troops
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Sri Lanka's new Marxist leader wins huge majority
Speed Read The left-leaning coalition of newly elected Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake won 159 of the legislature's 225 seats
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published