The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday handed Alabama Republicans a major victory in the state’s ongoing congressional redistricting fight, allowing the state to use a 2023 map drawn by the Republican-controlled legislature that eliminates one of its two majority-minority districts for the 2026 midterm elections.

In a 6-3 unsigned emergency order, the Court granted Alabama’s request to implement the map, reversing a lower court ruling that had blocked it. The decision puts Democratic Rep. Shomari Figures’ seat in serious jeopardy and strengthens Republican prospects of regaining the district.

The ruling comes months after the Supreme Court issued a decision in a Louisiana case that narrowed the scope of challenges under the Voting Rights Act. Alabama Republicans argued the new map better reflects traditional redistricting principles and political considerations rather than race. The Court’s majority suggested Alabama is likely to prevail in the broader litigation and criticized the lower court for intervening so close to the election.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor dissented sharply, joined by Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson. She argued the map had been found to intentionally discriminate against Black voters and accused the majority of rewarding Alabama for resisting court orders and creating unnecessary election-year chaos.

The case stems from Alabama’s post-2020 Census map, which originally had only one majority-Black district despite Black residents comprising roughly 27% of the state’s population. A 2023 Supreme Court ruling required a second such district, which helped elect Figures in 2024. Tuesday’s decision allows the state to revert to the legislature’s preferred map.

The ruling carries national implications as both parties pursue aggressive redistricting strategies ahead of the 2026 midterms. With Republicans holding a narrow House majority, the Alabama outcome could help the GOP protect or expand its advantage in Southern states. Alabama’s congressional primaries are scheduled for August 11.