June 3, 2026, 8:10 amJune 3, 2026, 8:10 am
A demonstrator holds a sign against redistricting in Montgomery, Alabama.Image: keystone
The US Supreme Court has temporarily lifted the ban on the controversial redrawing of electoral districts in the state of Alabama, thereby giving the Republicans a victory. In a previous instance, President Donald Trump’s party was prohibited from reintroducing a 2023 redistricting plan that a federal court ruled would have discriminated against black voters.
The Supreme Court has now overturned this decision. The ruling could help Trump’s Republicans defend their slim majority in the House of Representatives in the November midterm elections.
In the so-called midterms on November 3rd, part of the Senate and the entire House of Representatives will be re-elected. Because of the narrow majority in both chambers of parliament, each individual mandate could decide who ultimately has power in Congress. That’s why Republicans and Democrats have been fighting bitterly for months over redrawing electoral districts in several states in order to improve their respective chances of success.
Reform could evaporate votes from black voters
The Supreme Court, with its conservative majority, had already weakened the protection of minorities in voting rights in April. The so-called Voting Rights Act was one of the central achievements of the civil rights movement of the 1960s. He protected black and other minority districts from redistricting so that their representatives actually ended up in parliament. Their constituencies have now essentially lost this protection.
In Alabama, at the end of May, the federal court issued an interim injunction against the electoral district reform planned there because it would have divided the votes of black voters – who tend to be more favorable to Democrats – across several districts and would have lost their impact.
Both parties in the USA have been exploiting this effect for decades to strategically shift votes to other constituencies where the race is narrower. After Trump’s return to the White House, the dispute over this has recently intensified significantly and is being fought with tougher tactics.
Alabama is by no means an isolated case
Alabama is by no means an isolated case: courts in many states are currently dealing with the redrawing of electoral districts. In Texas, Florida, Oklahoma, Tennessee, North Carolina and Ohio, borders have either already been redrawn or there are plans to do so. The Democrats followed suit in California and Virginia, but are doing worse overall.
The November midterm elections are an important milestone for Trump’s second presidency. If his party loses its majority in even one of the two chambers of parliament, the Republican will no longer be able to easily push through major legislative initiatives. (sda/dpa)