Surprise Supreme Court decision gives boost to Democratic hopes
by Zach Schonfeld - 06/10/23 6:00 AM ET
A surprising Voting Rights Act decision at the Supreme Court has added a new dimension to the fight for House control ahead of the 2024 election cycle.
The ruling paves the way for the creation of a second Black-majority congressional district in Alabama, but it is also likely to impact voting map fights in states like Louisiana and Georgia.
With active lawsuits challenging congressional boundaries as racial gerrymanders across the country, election handicapper Cook Political Report quickly shifted five House district ratings toward Democrats in the wake of the decision.
The court’s decision has also left a sense of relief in the party after fears the high court would uphold Alabama’s GOP-drawn map proved wrong.
“This decision will affect redistricting cases across the country and help deliver a House of Representatives that better reflects the diversity of our nation, ensuring all voices are represented equally,” the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee said in a statement.
Expectations ran high that the Supreme Court would use Alabama’s case to narrow Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which prohibits voting practices that result in racial discrimination. The court temporarily blocked a lower ruling that cited the provision in striking down Alabama’s map.
But when the Supreme Court’s final decision was handed down on Thursday, Chief Justice John Roberts and fellow conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh joined the court’s three liberals to rule against Alabama. The court found the state diluted the power of Black voters, upholding Section 2 and giving voting rights advocates a 5-4 victory.
“The heart of these cases is not about the law as it exists. It is about Alabama’s attempt to remake our §2 jurisprudence anew,” Roberts wrote, affirming the lower court’s order that the state create a second majority-Black district.
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https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/4042863-surprise-supreme-court-decision-gives-boost-to-democratic-hopes/
