SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — A federal judge ruled Friday that Alabama’s current state Senate district map violates the Voting Rights Act of 1965, finding that the lines around Montgomery illegally dilute Black voting power. The court ordered lawmakers to create a new majority-Black or near-majority Black district in Montgomery in time for the 2026 elections.
But while the ruling is a major victory for voters in the capital, it left Huntsville’s districts untouched—a decision that has stirred frustration among Black leaders in North Alabama, who say their communities are also being denied fair representation.
Montgomery to Gain, Huntsville Left Out
U.S. District Judge Anna Manasco, in her 261-page ruling, wrote that the Legislature must create an additional Montgomery-area district in which Black voters “either comprise a voting-age majority or something quite close to it.” She said the plaintiffs had proved that a second district could be drawn in Montgomery.
However, she rejected claims that districts in Huntsville violate the Voting Rights Act, writing that plaintiffs did not show how a “reasonably configured district” could be created there with a Black voting majority.
This split decision means that while Montgomery will soon see expanded representation, Huntsville’s rapidly growing Black population will remain divided across several Senate districts.
The Huntsville Frustration
Huntsville, Alabama’s largest city, is now more than 30% Black according to census data. Yet voting rights advocates say the way districts are currently drawn fractures those voters across multiple lines, reducing their collective strength at the ballot box.
“This is only a partial victory,” said Benard Simelton, president of the Alabama NAACP. “Alabama must now draw fairer districts in Montgomery, but let’s be clear—leaving Huntsville untouched still denies many Black Alabamians their rightful representation.”
The ACLU’s Voting Rights Project echoed this concern:
“While we are pleased the court recognized the injustice in Montgomery, the fight is far from over in Huntsville. Black voters there will continue to face barriers to fair representation,” said Davin Rosborough, deputy director.
Local organizers in North Alabama say the decision underscores a longstanding pattern—that the Black electorate in Huntsville is overlooked, even as the city emerges as one of the state’s major economic and political hubs.
Legislative Reaction
Not everyone was disappointed. State Senate Majority Leader Steve Livingston, a Republican representing North Alabama, welcomed the decision not to intervene in Huntsville.
“At this time, we are pleased with the court’s ruling in the Huntsville area and disappointed by the ruling in the Montgomery area,” Livingston said. “We will determine next steps after a thorough review of the opinion in the coming days.”
Attorney General Steve Marshall and Senate leaders did not immediately comment on whether the state will appeal.
Broader Context
This marks the second time in four years that federal courts have struck down Alabama maps for violating the Voting Rights Act. In 2023, the state was forced to create new congressional lines, resulting in one Black-majority and one near-majority district after a high-profile Supreme Court battle.
Currently, the 35-member Alabama Senate has only seven Black senators, despite the state’s population being 27% Black. Civil rights groups argue that without fair maps in places like Huntsville, that imbalance will continue.
“Huntsville is Alabama’s future,” one local organizer said. “If representation here doesn’t reflect the people, then we’re not truly building a fair democracy.”
What Comes Next
Judge Manasco ordered lawmakers to redraw maps in time for the 2026 elections, scheduling a status conference for next week. If the Legislature fails, the court will impose its own map.
For Montgomery, the ruling represents progress after decades of racially gerrymandered districts. For Huntsville, however, the ruling means the fight continues.
“This is about more than maps—it’s about representation, fairness, and the future of democracy in Alabama,” Simelton said.
