Two More Southern States to Redraw Maps

[applegrove]

Two More Southern States to Redraw Maps

May 1, 2026 at 9:55 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard 116 Comments

https://politicalwire.com/2026/05/01/two-more-southern-states-to-redraw-maps/

“Two more Republican-controlled states took steps Friday to redraw their congressional maps as party leaders try to capitalize on the Supreme Court’s decision this week to weaken the Voting Rights Act,” the Washington Post reports.

“Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey (R) and Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (R) both called special sessions aimed at picking up more Republican seats, part of a gerrymandering war unprecedented in modern times.”

“That followed Republican Gov. Jeff Landry’s announcement Thursday that he would suspend Louisiana’s May 16 U.S. House primaries so his state could redraw its map.”

[SheltieLover]

1. Tsf suck ass bill lee just couldn't scramble quickly enough to comply.

[Fiendish Thingy]

2. Except the ruling doesn't become official for another 30 days or so

Unless SCOTUS does something out of the ordinary and files the ruling sooner.

Having to wait 30+ days before acting is going to put a massive time crunch on the states to redraw their districts, reschedule primaries, and then certify the results in time for military ballots to be mailed by early August.

Adding to the time crunch will be delays caused by the inevitable court challenges.

[BannonsLiver]

4. Ah the old nothing is ever a problem bit.

And imagine still believing 11 years into this thing that these people care about 30 day waiting periods. Or rules. 🤦‍♂️

[Skittles]

8. the usual suspects

[B.See]

10. Indeed. At one time I tried to give

the pooh poohers, the naysayers, and the cold water pourers the benefit of the doubt, chalking the dismissals up to overconfidence or...... SOMETHING.

But in the face of these recent developments? Well, let's just say I have my own thoughts on it, and leave it at that.

[misanthrope]

6. As someone in Alabama, let me tell you

they don't care. They will do whatever they want and demand someone tell them otherwise.

[Fiendish Thingy]

17. So, Alabama doesn't follow its own state laws or its own courts?

The legislature, which makes the laws, doesn’t follow them?

I know the governor has declared an “emergency” and suspended the date of the primaries, but that doesn’t mean there wont be court challenges or other technical obstacles that might delay the speed at which they can redraw their districts.

We shall see.

[misanthrope]

18. You mean like Mike Hubbard

Breaking the very ethics laws he pressured the legislature to create?

[pat_k]

7. This is confusing to me.

It sounds like there is a difference between how quickly the lower court from which the case was appealed can act (only after the "mandate" comes down) but the decision is otherwise binding on all other lower courts immediately -- and presumably applicable to whatever comes before them from that date?

In other words, further action on Louisiana v. Callais by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana (from which it was appealed to SCOTUS) must await the "mandate," generally issued in 30 days, but otherwise, the decision is binding precedent that other parties in other states can move forward based on?? Or am I reading things wrong??

FWIW, here is AI's (Gemini's) answer to "Are SCOTUS decisions binding as precedent for other cases immediately upon release?"

Yes, U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) decisions are binding on all other federal and state courts immediately upon release, according to 1.1.2 and 1.3.2. Once an opinion is published electronically on the Court’s website, it acts as mandatory authority that lower courts must follow 1.2.3 and 1.2.8.

Here is a breakdown of the binding nature of SCOTUS decisions:

Immediate Effect: The decisions are considered effective upon release, even though official publication in the United States Reports occurs much later 1.5.1.

Vertical Stare Decisis: As the highest court, SCOTUS holds the absolute authority in the judicial hierarchy, meaning all lower federal and state courts are obligated to follow their precedent 1.1.2 and 1.2.2.

Finality: A decision acts as final law, though for the parties involved, formal "judgments" may not be issued until the mandate comes down, which often happens later 1.4.2.

[B.See]

20. So much for that thirty days.

SCOTUS Helps Louisiana Republicans Obliterate Black, Dem District Ahead of Midterms

https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/supreme-court-fast-tracks-vra-decision/

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

3. kick

[misanthrope]

5. The funniest part of this

It shows what a useless puppet Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey is. She said on Wednesday that Alabama wouldn't do this. Those of us who see her for what she is knew that stance wouldn't last long, not once her handlers got hold of her and told her how to change course. Then in 24 hours, she had changed her tune.

[B.See]

9. So now we know why Trump and his MAGAS

don't give a flying f about polls or public opinion. The plan was to cheat all along.

[Emile]

11. How is it legal to suspend their primaries so they can

redraw a gerrymandered map?

[orangecrush]

12. Blue states better get busy.

[RoseTrellis]

14. Already have

I haven’t looked elsewhere, but all of New England is already 100% D.
What other D states could be redrawn under this decision?

[orangecrush]

15. Thank you

It seems the situation is in flux in some places.

[Jbraybarten]

13. They are all going to do it. The conservative history on this is long. They will not stop.

[orangecrush]

16. So are we.

And MAGATs are not conservatives.

They are a cult

[lame54]

19. Governors aren't gerrymandered...

Voters need to remember that