Tuesday, May 5 — The 2023 congressional map is part of the same legal frame

REDISTRICTING IN MOTION

The U.S. Supreme Court decided Louisiana v. Callais last week. Within days, Alabama's Governor called a special legislative session, Alabama's Attorney General filed emergency motions at the U.S. Supreme Court and at the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, and Alabama's first congressional district map fight reopened.

Three of Alabama's seven congressional districts could see boundary changes if the courts lift the injunctions in time: Alabama-1, Alabama-2, and Alabama-7. The Legislature is positioned this week to act as soon as the courts do. A special primary election in any redrawn district is part of the proclamation.

This affects every voter in Alabama-2. Most of all, it affects the question of who gets represented and how. Reasonable people in our communities will land in different places on the underlying argument. Our job in District 2 is to be ready for either outcome and to keep doing the work that the people of this district need done regardless of who draws the lines.

WHAT THE WORK LOOKS LIKE THIS WEEK

Tuskegee. The Fresenius Kidney Care dialysis center in Macon County is twelve days from its announced closure on Saturday, May 17. Approximately 50 dialysis patients will lose access to the only such facility in their county.

Wilcox. The only kidney dialysis center in Wilcox County was scheduled to close in March. The same provider, the same pattern, the same poverty rate, the same silence from federal leadership.

Montgomery. DAS North America announced a $77.6 million investment in late February bringing 100 new jobs to Montgomery. Montgomery ranked #2 statewide for capital investment among existing industry, #2 for job creation among existing industry, #3 for total capital investment ($1.2B), and #4 for total job creation in 2025.

WHAT WE ARE ASKING NEIGHBORS TO DO THIS WEEK

Three things, none of them complicated.

Make sure people you know are registered. Yesterday was the registration deadline for the May 19 primary. There is no in-person early voting in Alabama. Election Day is the only day.

Watch the special session. If District 2's lines change, the path to November 3 changes. The Legislature is in Montgomery this week. Pay attention.

Keep the pressure on Tuskegee dialysis. Twelve days. Fifty patients. A federal delegation has not solved this. Local pressure has kept the closure date moving twice already. Local pressure is what works.

KEY DATES

Today, Tuesday, May 5 — Special session, Day 2. Eleventh Circuit decision on the State Senate map emergency motion requested by May 8. Saturday, May 17 — Fresenius Kidney Care Tuskegee dialysis center closure deadline (T-12). Tuesday, May 19 — Alabama statewide primary election. Tuesday, November 3 — General Election.