Politicians, groups respond to Alabama's new congressional map

SAINT CLAIR COUNTY, AARON LLEWELLYN �� 13. ALL RIGHT. SO WE NOW KNOW WHICH CONGRESSIONAL MAP IS GOING TO BE USED FOR THE 2024 ELECTIONS. THE BIG CHANGES ARE IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE STATE. SO HERE’S THAT NEW MAP THE THREE JUDGE PANEL PICKED A PLAN THAT MOVES THE LINES OF CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT TWO, WHICH IS NOW REPRESENTED BY REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE BARRY MOORE. SO BLACK VOTERS WILL GO FROM COMPRISING LESS THAN A THIRD OF THE VOTING AGE POPULATION TO ABOUT 50%. THERE. THIS IS SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE IT GOES BACK TO THE DECISION MADE BY THE NATION’S HIGHEST COURT, WHICH UPHELD A FINDING THAT ALABAMA’S PRIOR MAP LIKELY VIOLATED THE FEDERAL VOTING RIGHTS ACT. THAT MAP HAD ONE MAJORITY BLACK DISTRICT OUT OF SEVEN. THAT’S IN A STATE WHERE 27% OF THE POPULATION IS BLACK. WITH THAT NEW MAP, THERE WILL BE A SECOND MAJORITY BLACK DISTRICT OR SOMETHING CLOSE. SO LOTS OF REACTION TO THIS DECISION TODAY. THE ALABAMA GOP SAYING IN PART OF THE THREE MAPS THE COURT CHOSE THE MAP THAT IS THE MOST DEMOCRATIC, NOT THE MAP, WITH THE HIGHEST MINORITY VOTING AGE POPULATION. WE ARE HOPEFUL. ALABAMA ATTORNEY GENERAL STEVE MARSHALL WILL CONTINUE WITH THE APPEAL PROCESS. ALABAMA DEMOCRATS ALSO WEIGHING IN, RELEASING THIS STATEMENT SAYING, QUOTE, WITH THE ADOPTION OF A FAIR CONGRESSIONAL MAP, THE NEW OPPORTUNITY DISTRICT PROVIDES BLACK VOTERS WITH A REALISTIC CHANCE TO ELECT A REPRESENTATIVE OF THEIR CHOICE. AS THE ALABAMA

Politicians and organizations are responding to the new congressional map chosen for the state of Alabama on Thursday.The Special Master's Remedial Plan 3 was chosen. The Alabama Secretary of State is ordered to administer the next election according to the map, which is more than a year away.To read the full ruling, click here.According to Secretary of State Wes Allen's office, the map will be posted online and each county will be responsible for implementing line changes to the district. Voters will then be able to check to see which congressional district they are assigned online once it is updated.PoliticiansSecretary of State Wes Allen“The Office of the Secretary of State will facilitate the 2024 election cycle in accordance with the map the federal court has forced upon Alabama and ordered us to use," Allen said in a statement."It is important for all Alabamians to know that the legal portion of this process has not yet been completed. A full hearing on the redistricting issue will take place in the future and I trust Attorney General Marshall to represent Alabama through that process. In the meantime, I will keep our state’s elections safe, secure and transparent because that is what I was elected to do.”Attorney General Steve MarshallRep. Terri Sewell“After numerous hearings, three Supreme Court rulings, and unprecedented defiance by state officials, the voters of Alabama finally have a fair congressional map! While we celebrate this historic victory, the continued resistance that we face from state officials should not be lost on anyone. This long and arduous battle over Alabama’s congressional map serves as a solemn reminder that efforts to deny fair representation to Black and minority voters are still alive and well. Now more than ever, we must restore the FULL protections of the Voting Rights Act. We need the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and we need it now.”OrganizationsACLU of Alabama, who represented the Milligan plaintiffs:“Today’s order means for the first time, Black voters in two congressional districts will have an opportunity to elect a candidate of their choice,�� said JaTaune Bosby Gilchrist, the executive director of the ACLU of Alabama. “It is unfortunate that federal courts were forced to put in place a congressional map that state lawmakers refused to admit is the right thing to do, but we are thankful for their intervention. Our democracy is strongest when we make it possible for every vote to be counted. Putting in place fair voting maps moves us closer to that reality."Alabama Democrats:"With the adoption of a fair congressional map, the new opportunity district provides Black voters with a realistic chance to elect a representative of their choice. The Alabama Democratic Party celebrates that the Voting Rights Act has been upheld. Importantly, the Alabama Legislature and Attorney General were unsuccessful in their attempts to defy the Supreme Court and thwart the rule of law. We are heartened that the Court recognized Alabama's long and contentious history of denying Black voters their constitutional rights and equal treatment. We are looking forward to a Democrat having a viable chance to earn the trust of the voters during the next election and winning this seat."Alabama GOP:"While we continue to have the utmost respect for the legal process, we are disappointed with the decision the District Court has reached. Of the three maps, the Court chose the map that is the most Democratic �� not the map with the highest minority voting age population. We are hopeful Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall will continue with the appeal process. We believe Alabama's Congressional Districts should represent the communities of our state, and not be based on the liberal Democrat agenda or the color of people's skin."

Politicians and organizations are responding to the new congressional map chosen for the state of Alabama on Thursday.

Alabama has a new, fairer congressional map that gives Black voters an equal opportunity to elect a candidate of their choice.

This is a historic win for voting rights and democracy, and it happened thanks to the hard work of Black voters, advocates, and organizations like��
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama)

The Special Master's Remedial Plan 3 was chosen. The Alabama Secretary of State is ordered to administer the next election according to the map, which is more than a year away.

To read the full ruling, click .

According to Secretary of State Wes Allen's office, the map will be posted online and each county will be responsible for implementing line changes to the district. Voters will then be able to check to see which congressional district they are assigned once it is updated.

Politicians

Secretary of State Wes Allen

“The Office of the Secretary of State will facilitate the 2024 election cycle in accordance with the map the federal court has forced upon Alabama and ordered us to use," Allen said in a statement.

"It is important for all Alabamians to know that the legal portion of this process has not yet been completed. A full hearing on the redistricting issue will take place in the future and I trust Attorney General Marshall to represent Alabama through that process. In the meantime, I will keep our state’s elections safe, secure and transparent because that is what I was elected to do.��

Attorney General Steve Marshall

Official Statement on Court-Imposed Redistricting Map
— Attorney General Steve Marshall (@AGSteveMarshall)

Rep. Terri Sewell

“After numerous hearings, three Supreme Court rulings, and unprecedented defiance by state officials, the voters of Alabama finally have a fair congressional map! While we celebrate this historic victory, the continued resistance that we face from state officials should not be lost on anyone. This long and arduous battle over Alabama’s congressional map serves as a solemn reminder that efforts to deny fair representation to Black and minority voters are still alive and well. Now more than ever, we must restore the FULL protections of the Voting Rights Act. We need the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and we need it now.��

Organizations

ACLU of Alabama, who represented the Milligan plaintiffs:

“Today’s order means for the first time, Black voters in two congressional districts will have an opportunity to elect a candidate of their choice,�� said JaTaune Bosby Gilchrist, the executive director of the ACLU of Alabama. “It is unfortunate that federal courts were forced to put in place a congressional map that state lawmakers refused to admit is the right thing to do, but we are thankful for their intervention. Our democracy is strongest when we make it possible for every vote to be counted. Putting in place fair voting maps moves us closer to that reality."

Alabama Democrats:

"With the adoption of a fair congressional map, the new opportunity district provides Black voters with a realistic chance to elect a representative of their choice. The Alabama Democratic Party celebrates that the Voting Rights Act has been upheld. Importantly, the Alabama Legislature and Attorney General were unsuccessful in their attempts to defy the Supreme Court and thwart the rule of law. We are heartened that the Court recognized Alabama's long and contentious history of denying Black voters their constitutional rights and equal treatment. We are looking forward to a Democrat having a viable chance to earn the trust of the voters during the next election and winning this seat."

Alabama GOP:

"While we continue to have the utmost respect for the legal process, we are disappointed with the decision the District Court has reached. Of the three maps, the Court chose the map that is the most Democratic �� not the map with the highest minority voting age population. We are hopeful Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall will continue with the appeal process. We believe Alabama's Congressional Districts should represent the communities of our state, and not be based on the liberal Democrat agenda or the color of people's skin."

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