The Supreme Court’s Gutting of the Voting Rights Act is Mobilizing Black Voters. Look at Alabama

Twelve days before the midterm elections, Senator Cory Booker and former Montana Senator Jon Tester journeyed to Alabama to campaign in the district of first-term Democratic Rep. Shomari Figures. This district, now part of the state's second congressional district, was redrawn following the Supreme Court's dismantling of the Voting Rights Act.

The district was altered to remove Figures' hometown of Mobile and several Black Belt counties, while incorporating the overwhelmingly white and rural Wiregrass region, including Houston County. Despite the alterations, the district remains in play, with Figures and Republicans anticipating a close race.

In Dothan, Alabama, a "peanut capital of the world," a rally drew a large crowd of 400 to 500 people. Testifying to the enthusiasm, Figures remarked, "When's the last time y'all been to a rally like this in Dothan? Never!" Booker chimed in, "When they gave me the Wiregrass, they did not know that the Wiregrass looked like this." Figures emphasized the discontent of the crowd, stating, "The attempt to just grab and hold and retain power, is something that people here in America fundamentally disagree with."

Figures recounted how Republicans had deliberately targeted his seat, carving out communities that resemble his own while adding communities that don't. Despite the attempt to manipulate district lines, Figures noted that voters are concerned about issues beyond district boundaries, such as rising fuel prices and high fertilizer costs due to political decisions.

The local Democratic turnout has surged in response to the voting rights decision, mirroring the post-Roe v. Wade surge in women voters during the last midterm election. As voter registration and turnout data become available after the November 3 election, it will be evident if the backlash against the Callais decision is fueling an increased turnout of Black voters in traditionally Republican areas, much like the surge in southern states following the dismantling of the Voting Rights Act.