The U.S. Supreme Court has invalidated Louisiana’s congressional map, ruling that race cannot be a primary factor in creating districts with significant Black populations and likely Democratic voting blocs.
In the case involving Louisiana v. Callais and Robinson v. Callais, the Court determined that the state’s map violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment by failing to comply with Voting Rights Act requirements for majority-Black districts. The Trump administration and Louisiana officials had argued the map constituted racial gerrymandering.
Principal deputy solicitor general Hashim Mooppan stated during oral arguments: “If these were white Democrats, there’s no reason to think they would have a second district, none.”
The decision could allow Republican officials to redraw up to 19 congressional districts in the South and Midwest to eliminate majority-minority districts. However, the timing of today’s ruling may limit its impact on the November midterms, where Democrats are expected to have an advantage.
