Federal Judge Imposes New Alabama Senate Map Amid Racial Gerrymandering Claims

In a decision with profound implications for Alabama’s political landscape and state sovereignty, U.S. District Judge Anna Manasco has ordered a court-drawn map to replace the existing Alabama Senate districts ahead of the 2026 elections. The ruling targets alleged racial gerrymandering in Montgomery, where Black voters were "packed" into a single district to limit their electoral influence elsewhere. Judge Manasco, a Trump appointee known for her stringent interpretations of election law, concluded that the original district lines violated the Voting Rights Act by diluting Black voting power. However, this judicial intervention raises critical questions about who truly should decide electoral...