Alabama and Tennessee set special sessions to consider new congressional maps after Supreme Court ruling

The Republican governors of Alabama and Tennessee on Friday called for their state legislators to convene for special sessions to consider new congressional maps after a major Supreme Court decision on race and redistricting this week

The Republican governors of Alabama and Tennessee on Friday called for their state legislators to convene for special sessions to consider new congressional maps after a major Supreme Court decision on race and redistricting this week.

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In Alabama, Gov. Kay Ivey said the GOP-controlled Legislature should be prepared to set special primary elections if the Supreme Court allows them to use a congressional map that had been blocked in court.

Alabama's primaries on May 19 are currently scheduled to take place using a court-ordered map that includes two districts with heavy Black populations. But the Supreme Court’s decision signaled that Alabama might now be allowed to use a previous map with just one of those districts in place, which would likely result in an additional seat for Republicans.