Alabama Map Changes Eliminate Black-Majority District
Redrawn congressional lines removed one of the state's two majority-Black districts ahead of the 2026 election.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Elections
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Alabama changed its congressional map ahead of the 2026 election, eliminating one of the state's two majority-Black districts. Democratic U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures won reelection in the 2nd Congressional District, and Democratic U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell retained her seat in the 7th.
Why it matters
The changes reduce the number of congressional districts in Alabama where Black voters have historically had strong influence over outcomes. The results show how redistricting can reshape representation even for incumbents who keep their seats.
Figures won 54% of the vote in the 2nd Congressional District, where Black voters are less than 40% of registered voters. Before the redrawn map, Alabama had two majority-Black congressional districts, and the source does not detail the legal challenges to the changes.
The players
Shomari Figures
Democratic U.S. Representative who won reelection in Alabama's 2nd Congressional District in 2026.
Terri Sewell
Democratic U.S. Representative who retained her seat in Alabama's 7th Congressional District in 2026.
The details
Changes to Alabama's congressional map eliminated one of its two majority-Black districts before the 2026 election. Figures held the 2nd District with 54% of the vote, while Sewell retained the 7th District.
Timeline
2026: Alabama holds its congressional election under the redrawn map.
November 7, 2026: Reporting on the election results and redistricting is published.
Big Picture
The changes fit into a long-running debate over Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which governs whether redrawn maps dilute the voting strength of Black voters. Alabama's reduction from two majority-Black districts to one echoes that tension in the state's congressional map.
Voters in Alabama's redrawn districts are represented by the incumbents who won in 2026, and the eliminated majority-Black district changes which communities hold a congressional seat. The shift affects who represents residents in the state's congressional delegation.
The takeaway
Redistricting can change the composition of a state's delegation even when incumbents win reelection. Readers can track how map changes shift representation across Alabama's districts.
Further reading
Follow the latest coverage in Elections for more on how redistricting is reshaping races.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WEAR2.
Live Poll
Do you think redrawing congressional maps makes it harder for Black voters to elect their choice?
