US southern states rush to redraw electoral maps to dilute Black voting power

"US southern states are rushing to redraw congressional maps to eliminate Democratic districts and dilute the influence of Black voters in electing candidates, a bare-knuckled blitz occurring even in some states where voting in congressional primaries has begun, and prompted by the US supreme court's decision gutting section 2 of the Voting Rights Act."

"Tennessee Republicans have already enacted a new map, carving up the majority-Black city of Memphis into three different congressional districts to get rid of the state's lone Democrat in Congress. Louisiana, the state at the center of the supreme court's Voting Rights Act decision, is on the verge of implementing a new map that would eliminate the seat of one of the state's two Black Democrats in Congress."

"Alabama has successfully petitioned the US supreme court to allow it to eliminate a district currently represented by a Black Democrat. Instead, it will use a map this cycle that a court previously ruled was intentionally drawn to discriminate against Black voters. In South Carolina, the Republican governor is reportedly poised to call a special session to draw a new congressional map to eliminate the district currently held by Jim Clyburn."

"Georgia and Mississippi have opted against redrawing districts ahead of midterm elections this year, though they are likely to redraw ahead of the 2028 elections. States such as Texas, Missouri, Florida and North Carolina, which already redrew their maps to add Republican districts, could also draw maps again before 2028 elections. This is a five-alarm fire for Black representation in the south, said Michael Li, a redistricting expert at the Brennan Center for Justice."

Southern states are rapidly redrawing congressional districts to reduce Democratic representation and weaken Black voters’ influence. The changes are occurring even as some states begin congressional primary voting. The push follows a Supreme Court decision that weakened Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. Tennessee Republicans enacted a map that splits Memphis, a majority-Black city, into three districts to eliminate the state’s only Democrat in Congress. Louisiana is preparing a map that would remove a seat held by one of its two Black Democrats. Alabama is seeking to eliminate a district represented by a Black Democrat and will use a map previously ruled intentionally discriminatory. South Carolina Republicans are considering a special session to remove Jim Clyburn’s district. Some states have delayed changes but may redraw later.

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