Gov. Kay Ivey sets special elections for four congressional districts

Gov. Kay Ivey on Tuesday called a special election for congressional districts 1, 2, 6 and 7 after the U.S. Supreme Court Monday evening allowed the state to revert to its 2023 congressional maps. 

“I will continue to say: Alabama knows our state, our people and our districts best. The United States Supreme Court’s decision is plain common sense and enables our values to be best represented in Congress,” Ivey said in a statement Tuesday morning. “For years, we have fought for this outcome, and I am proud to celebrate this win for Alabamians.”

The special primary election will be on Aug. 11, and there will be no runoff, as required by legislation passed by the Legislature and signed by Ivey on Friday. Qualifying for the special election will begin on May 20 and end on May 22 at 5 p.m. for all major parties. For independent candidates and minor parties, qualifying ends on Aug. 11 at 5 p.m.

“Alabamians now have another opportunity to send strong voices to Washington to fight for our values, and I encourage them to get out and vote in this special primary election on August 11. I also urge them to head to the polls this coming Tuesday, May 19 to vote in all other races,” Ivey said.

The previously scheduled primary elections for all other races are in one week. Absentee voting began in March. Votes already cast in the affected districts will be nullified, but votes in other races will still be counted. 

Plaintiffs in Allen v. Milligan, the court case on congressional redistricting, filed an emergency motion Monday for a temporary restraining order to preserve the court-ordered congressional districts. 

“Nothing in Callais changes the court’s finding that ‘when the Legislature enacted the 2023 Plan, there was no lack of clarity that an additional opportunity district was necessary in Alabama’ and that regardless of whether the Supreme Court might eventually alter the standard in the future, as it did in Callais, ‘at that moment in time, … there was no basis for those legislators to believe that they could ignore [the court’s] affirmed ruling…’” the plaintiffs wrote.  “And nothing in Callais changes the fact that defendants stipulated (and this Court found) that the Remedial Plan was ‘prepared race-blind’ in accordance with Alabama’s redistricting guidelines and ‘without reference to any illustrative or proposed plan.’”

The three-judge panel ordered the plaintiffs and Secretary of State Wes Allen to file any motions in relation to the Supreme Court’s order for the lower court to reevaluate the map by Friday at noon. Allen is also required to file an affidavit on the practicalities of administering the election as soon as possible, but no later than Friday at noon. The court also asked Allen when he would need a map in hand to effectively administer a special election.

“It is essential that we have a full understanding of all relevant practicalities without delay,” the order said.

Rep. Rhett Marques, R-Enterprise, and candidate for Alabama’s 1st Congressional District, announced Monday evening that he is now a candidate for the 2nd Congressional District. That district is currently represented by U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures, D-Mobile, who, under the 2023 map, would fall into 1st Congressional District. A message seeking comment from Figures was left Tuesday.

The 2nd Congressional District currently runs across the southern part of Alabama’s Black Belt, from the Mississippi border to Georgia. Using the 2023 map would put more of the district in the Republican-leaning Wiregrass and reduce the Black Voting Age Population (BVAP) from about 49% to under 40%, making it more likely to be won by a Republican.

Clyde Jones, Democratic candidate for District 1, said in a phone interview Tuesday afternoon that he plans to run in the special election.

“This is very disappointing, as far as all these changes, but we’re going to keep going,” Jones said.

Messages seeking comment from U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Selma; and Keith Pilkington, Democratic candidate in District 6, were left Tuesday morning. A message seeking comment from Jeannie Burniston, spokeswoman for the Alabama Republican Party, was left Tuesday morning. 

Candidates that win the primary election will advance to the general election on Nov. 3 with all other races, according to the press release. 

This story was updated Tuesday at 12:22 p.m. to include a comment from Clyde Jones, Democratic candidate for District 1; and at 12:52 p.m. to include a scheduling order from a three-judge panel.