US Republicans Try to Reduce Black Representation

By Elissa Fitzgerald

Topic: World Politics

On Monday, June 29, 2026, at 4:49 am

Shomari Figures may lose his Alabama seat due to gerrymandering.

Southern US states are making new electoral maps to eliminate Black majority areas.

This is part of a plan between Republicans and Democrats to gain election advantages.

Here's why gerrymandering is happening and how far it has gone.

First, what is gerrymandering?

It's a tactic parties use to gain election advantages.

US states decide the boundaries of federal electorates, or congressional districts.

This is different from Australia, where boundaries are drawn by an independent commission.

Because of this, American politicians can change maps to help themselves.

Gerrymandering works by

It helps a party win more seats, even if most voters supported another party.

Planet America explains what gerrymandering looks like.

Many consider gerrymandering cheating, but it's almost entirely legal in the US.

One limitation is the Voting Rights Act, which prohibits changes that discriminate based on race or language.

What does race have to do with maps?

When thinking about how an area will vote, race can be a reliable predictor.

Research shows Black voters tend to support Democrats.

This is a major factor in gerrymandering in the South, where most Black Americans live.

"A heavily Democratic area that is predominantly Black will vote Democratic more consistently than a heavily Democratic area that is predominantly white," say professors Claire Wofford and Jordan Ragusa.

Trump's redistricting race

The US will hold midterm elections on November 3 to decide the House of Representatives and a third of the Senate.

Arnold Schwarzenegger is concerned about "crazy gerrymandering" in the US.

In past midterm elections, the president's party usually loses seats in the House.

To prevent this, President Trump told Republican governors to gerrymander their state's districts.

This led to redistricting across the country, with Democratic states making their own changes to counter Republican gains.

But some Southern red states faced a roadblock that stopped their plans.

In states like Alabama and Tennessee, the blue districts they wanted to eliminate had majority-minority populations protected by the Voting Rights Act.

Louisiana vs Callais

In April, the US Supreme Court cleared the way for new maps with a judgment.

The justices ruled that Louisiana's congressional map, which created a second majority-Black district to comply with the Voting Rights Act, was unconstitutional.

"Allowing race to play any part in government decision-making represents a departure from the constitutional rule," said Justice Samuel Alito.

The Supreme Court decision allowed Alabama to change its electoral map.

Critics say the decision gutted the Voting Rights Act and would let politicians dilute minority voting power.

"This decision is a devastating setback in the long fight for equality in political representation for all Americans," said Michael Waldman.

"By undermining the Voting Rights Act, the Supreme Court has dismantled the ability of voters of color to have a fair chance for representation in government."

"The ruling risks allowing politicians to 'choose their voters instead of voters choosing them," said voting rights organizations.

How did states respond?

After the Supreme Court's ruling, several red states introduced new maps to give Republicans an advantage.

Republicans say the new maps are not about race.

"The color of one's skin should not dictate which congressional district you belong in," said Abigail Jackson.

But experts say drawing districts without racial influences is complicated because Black voters are reliably Democrats.

"Across the region, race is a very strong predictor of how people vote: Southern whites tend to be among the most conservative and Republican-leaning in the country, while Southern Blacks are among the most reliably Democratic," said Maya Sen.

"As a result, Republican state legislators throughout the South will have a strong incentive to eliminate Congressional districts that currently elect Black representatives."

Tennessee Democrat Joe Towns Jr reacts to a vote on redistricting congressional election maps.

Some Black Republicans argue the Voting Rights Act's equity measures are no longer needed.

"The Black person … who ideologically is aligned with their state or their district can win anywhere," said Tim Scott.

What does this look like for Black representation?

Breaking up blue districts hurts voters of color, according to Black Voters Matter.

"The elimination of Black and Hispanic majority districts means those lawmakers are effectively removed from office," the organization said.

Democrats could lose seven Black members this year due to redistricting, a historic erosion of Black political power.

This includes Shomari Figures from Alabama's 2nd congressional district, who said the Supreme Court set the nation back "decades".

Dr. Sen said the number of Black representatives in Congress would fall significantly over the next decade.

"This paints a bleak picture for the future of Black representation in elected offices, particularly in the South," she said.

On Monday, June 29, 2026, at 4:49 am

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