Lawmakers in multiple Southern states are convening special sessions this week to consider redrawing congressional district maps ahead of the November midterm elections, following a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that affected a key provision of the Voting Rights Act. The ruling struck down a majority-Black congressional district in Louisiana, finding that race was overly relied upon in its creation. This decision has opened the door for several Republican-led states to pursue changes to congressional boundaries that could alter the political landscape.

In Alabama, a special legislative session began Monday as Republican Gov. Kay Ivey and state lawmakers weigh options to revise congressional districts. This follows federal court orders requiring the use of a court-selected map with a district containing a significant Black voting population until at least after the 2030 Census. Alabama has appealed to the courts to reinstate a 2023 map favored by Republican legislators. That map would notably change the district currently represented by Rep. Shomari Figures, a Black Democrat. Ivey’s special session aims to develop contingency plans, including the possibility of special primary elections, to align with potential court approvals of the new maps before November. Democrats have criticized the move as a partisan effort to undermine Black representation. Former U.S. Sen. Doug Jones, a Democrat running for governor, described the session as a "blatant power grab" aimed at eliminating seats held by Black Democrats.

Tennessee’s Republican Gov. Bill Lee called lawmakers into a special session beginning Tuesday to consider dismantling the state’s sole Democratic-held congressional district, centered in majority-Black Memphis. This follows sustained pressure from national Republicans, including former President Donald Trump, who tweeted that state legislatures should act on the Supreme Court’s guidance, suggesting Republicans could gain up to 20 House seats by redistricting. The Tennessee Legislature is GOP-controlled, and the primary election there is scheduled for August 6. Democrats have expressed hope that the state Supreme Court will again intervene, as it did in 2022 when it blocked a similar redistricting effort close to an election.

Louisiana lawmakers, already in session, have also moved swiftly to delay their May 16 congressional primary to allow time for redrawing districts in response to the Supreme Court decision. While Republicans have yet to release specific map proposals, civil rights groups and Democrats are actively challenging the delay and related changes through multiple lawsuits. They have encouraged voters to participate in early voting, currently underway in Louisiana, in case court rulings render those ballots valid.

Meanwhile, Florida became the eighth state this year to approve new congressional maps aimed at influencing the midterm elections. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a redrawn map that is projected to help Republicans gain as many as four additional House seats. The map faces legal challenges alleging it constitutes an unconstitutional partisan gerrymander under the state constitution.

Overall, Republicans anticipate gaining up to 13 seats from new congressional districts across five states, while Democrats see opportunities to pick up around 10 seats under new maps adopted in three states. The recent Supreme Court ruling has significantly shifted the redistricting landscape, prompting expedited efforts primarily in Southern states, where many majority-Black districts that have historically elected Democrats may be targeted for reconfiguration. Civil rights advocates caution that these actions risk disenfranchising Black voters and have mobilized protests and legal challenges in response.