Alabama holds special primaries under new map that removes a majority-Black district
Voters in four Alabama congressional districts will choose House nominees Tuesday using a newly drawn map that eliminates one of the state's two majority-Black seats.
Following a U.S. Supreme Court decision that led Alabama, Louisiana and Tennessee to abandon their congressional maps, Republican Governor Kay Ivey rescheduled the primaries for the 1st, 2nd, 6th and 7th districts to Tuesday under a new map that eliminates one of Alabama's two majority-Black districts. The Republican-crafted boundaries will become operative in January 2027, while current House members remain in office through the end of 2026.
Democratic incumbents Shomari Figures and Terri Sewell face no primary challengers in the reconfigured 2nd and 7th districts, although the Black share of the 2nd district drops from about 50% to roughly 40%. Six Republicans, including state Rep. Rhett Marques—endorsed and financially supported by Donald Trump—are contesting the 2nd-district nomination, and Ammie Akin and David Perry vie for the 7th. The contests occur 84 days before the 2026 midterm elections, a race the GOP hopes will preserve its narrow House majority.
Why it matters
The primaries set the stage for congressional races that could affect the GOP's hold on the House in the 2026 midterms.
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