Southern state Republicans look to capitalize on Supreme Court ruling weakening Voting Rights Act

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Lawmakers in several southern states will be meeting this week to consider redistricting plans in response to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that weakened the Voting Rights Act. Republican Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey has called legislators into a special session starting Monday (May 4, 2026) that could enable a new date for congressional primaries. Tennessee Republican Gov. Bill Lee has announced a special session starting Tuesday to redraw the state’s U.S. House districts. And Louisiana lawmakers also are in session to consider how to redraw districts after the Supreme Court struck down a majority Black district in the state.