Alabama, Tennessee take on redistricting as voters in Indiana, Ohio head to polls
Alabama and Tennessee lawmakers are moving into redistricting fights as voters in Indiana and Ohio cast ballots, putting election rules, congressional maps and primary contests in the political spotlight. The developments come as states weigh mid-decade map changes following recent court action and ahead of the 2026 midterm cycle.
Alabama seeking approval for new map that could make it a 7-0 GOP sweep
Republican Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey called legislators back to Montgomery starting Monday to approve contingency plans for special primary elections in hopes the Supreme Court will let the state switch congressional maps ahead of the November midterms.
It is a move that Republican legislative leaders said would "give our state a fighting chance to send seven Republican members to Congress."
The seven-member delegation currently has two Democrats.
Federal judges previously ordered Alabama to use a court-selected map with a second district with a substantial number of Black voters.
The judges also ordered Alabama to use the new map until after the 2030 Census.
Alabama is appealing that decision and is hoping the court, in light of the Louisiana ruling, will let Alabama revert to a 2023 map drawn by state lawmakers.
That proposal would substantially alter the district now represented by Rep. Shomari Figures, D-Ala., a Black woman.
The proposal in Alabama hinges on the courts lifting the injunction in time to switch maps before the November election. Lawmakers will consider bills that will enable special congressional primaries in the four impacted congressional districts if that happens.
"As I continue saying, Alabama knows our state, our people and our districts best," Ivey said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
GOP Tenn State Rep Jody Barrett backs Trump on redistricting 'fight'
Tennessee State Rep. Jody Barrett, R-Dixson, is backing President Donald Trump on the redistricting “fight,” saying Republicans are right to revisit the state’s congressional map as part of a broader push to ensure voters, not political insiders, decide elections.
“President Trump has been clear from day one: you don’t sit back while the system is being manipulated,” Barrett said. “You fight back. That’s exactly what Tennesseans expect, and that’s exactly what I’ll continue to do.”
Barrett, widely regarded as one of Tennessee’s most conservative lawmakers, said the issue is about making sure Tennesseans are “fully and fairly represented” and that their values are carried to Washington. He argued voters are increasingly frustrated with political systems they see as disconnected from the people they are supposed to serve.
“For years, Democrats have aggressively worked to reshape the political map in states across the country. People see it, and they’re tired of it,” Barrett said. “This isn’t about politics. It’s about making sure Tennesseans aren’t sidelined while the rules are being rewritten somewhere else.”
Barrett said any redistricting effort should be judged by whether it restores confidence in elections and puts voters back in control.
“This comes down to one simple question,” Barrett said. “Do voters choose their representatives, or do politicians choose their voters? I’ll always stand with the voters. No exceptions.”
Ohio's new map will potentially challenge some longtime Democrat Reps
Political analysts will be closely monitoring voter turnout in Tuesday's Ohio primary elections. A strong showing by Democrat Senate candidate Sherrod Brown could hint at whether Democrats might score an upset victory in their battle for the Senate.
At the same time, three U.S. House of Representatives races in Ohio could also provide clues on Democrats' more likely chances of winning control of that chamber, which Republicans now hold with a narrow majority.
Last year, Ohio approved a redistricting plan that Republicans drew up to gain an added edge in the November elections.
That has put Democrat Rep. Marcy Kaptur's four-decade House career in jeopardy. While she is expected to win her party primary, her northwest district in the Toledo area is now composed of significantly more Trump supporters, making her an underdog in the general election, according to analysts.
Similarly, Democrat Rep. Greg Landsman's Cincinnati district is now more Republican-friendly, although he is seen holding an edge against the likely winner of Tuesday's Republican primary.
Meanwhile, Democrat Rep. Emilia Sykes' newly drawn district in the Akron area could boost her prospects in November in a somewhat competitive race with whichever candidate emerges from a crowded Republican primary field.
Sykes is unopposed in the Democrat primary.
Reuters contributed to this report.
2026 congressional redistricting unlikely in red state South Carolina
A top aide to Republican Gov. Henry McMaster of South Carolina confirms to Fox News Digital that it is very unlikely the GOP controlled state will enact congressional redistricting in the wake of last week’s blockbuster Supreme Court ruling stripping protections from the landmark 1965 Voting Rights Act.
“We do not anticipate the governor calling a special session,” McMaster spokeswoman Michelle LeClair said.
President Donald Trump’s political team and other national Republicans were hoping that South Carolina would join other Southern States (Louisiana, Alabama and Tennessee) in moving forward with redrawing their maps in the wake of the SCOTUS ruling.
Democrats control only one of South Carolina’s seven congressional seats. That seat is held by longtime Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C.
It is primary day in Republican-dominated Indiana, where President Donald Trump’s immense sway over the GOP is on the line, as his endorsements in key races will be tested.
In neighboring Ohio, another right-leaning state, some of Tuesday's top primaries will tee up crucial general election showdowns in November’s midterm elections, when Republicans will be defending their slim Senate and razor-thin House majorities.
Two congressional incumbents in Indiana — Republican Rep. Jim Baird and Democrat Rep. Andre Carson — face serious primary challenges.
And in Ohio, Republicans will pick from a crowded primary field in the race to face off with vulnerable Democrat Rep. Marcy Kaptur.
This is an excerpt from Paul Steinhauser's report. Get the full story here.
Tennessee's redistricting special legislative session Tuesday will weigh a map that will potentially turn the state's lone blue district red before the 2026 midterms.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, who is term-limited and leaving office after this year, moved quickly to call the special session after a conversation last week with President Donald Trump on the heels of the landmark Supreme Court decision that found race should not be used to dictate the drawing of legislative district maps.
"We owe it to Tennesseans to ensure our congressional districts accurately reflect the will of Tennessee voters," Lee wrote in a statement, announcing the session after the Trump call, expressing urgency "to comply with mandatory election qualifying timelines" and make sure a new map is "enacted as soon as possible."
"After consultation with the Lt. Governor, Speaker of the House, Attorney General, and Secretary of State, I believe the General Assembly has a responsibility to review the map and ensure it remains fair, legal, and defensible."
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