Louisiana Republicans in the state Senate passed a new congressional map Friday that eliminates one of the state's two Democratic-leaning, majority-Black House districts ahead of November's midterm elections. The legislation now heads to GOP Gov. Jeff Landry, who is expected to sign it into law.
The redistricting effort was enabled by the Supreme Court's recent decision to narrow the Voting Rights Act, which gave Louisiana and other southern states legal cover to redraw their majority-minority districts. Landry declared a state of emergency to expedite the process, canceling May primary elections for House races and pushing them to November 3.
What the Right Is Saying
Republicans contend the map complies with federal law following the Supreme Court's ruling on Voting Rights Act provisions. The party points to the court's decision as providing clear authority for states to adjust district boundaries. Some members of Louisiana's GOP congressional delegation expressed reservations about the process. Rep. Clay Higgins, a Republican from the state, called the new boundaries a 'Frankenstein looking thing' that was 'NO DOUBT drawn up by a very small handful of guys in a secret room.'
What the Left Is Saying
Democratic lawmakers and voting rights advocates argue the new map violates constitutional protections for minority representation. Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus Chair Edmond Jordan, a Democrat, spoke on the House floor about the implications for Black voters in the state. Legal challenges are expected from plaintiffs involved in Louisiana v. Callais, who have already argued in court filings that even one remaining majority-Black district may be unconstitutional under current precedent.
What the Numbers Show
Louisiana currently holds two majority-Black congressional districts out of six total House seats. The redrawn map reduces Democratic-leaning representation to a single district centered around New Orleans, represented by Rep. Troy Carter. His district has been reconfigured to largely mirror the seat he won in 2022. Rep. Cleo Fields' district, which snaked across the state from Shreveport to Baton Rouge, has been eliminated entirely under the new boundaries.
The Bottom Line
The passage of Louisiana's new congressional map marks a significant shift in the state's electoral landscape ahead of November elections. Legal challenges are virtually certain, with voting rights groups pointing to existing litigation challenging minority representation protections. Other southern states including Texas have undertaken similar redistricting efforts following the Supreme Court's ruling. Meanwhile, Georgia and South Carolina have chosen to delay any changes until the 2028 cycle.