Louisiana Approves New Voting Map Eliminating a Majority-Black District

Louisiana’s primary occurred amid Supreme Court action that weakened the Voting Rights Act. The Court’s ruling asserted that states were being forced into unconstitutional race-based discrimination. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry suspended the election while voting was already underway, canceling more than 40,000 cast votes. The state legislature then passed new maps that included one fewer majority-Black district. In 2022, after federal courts found an earlier map unconstitutional, Republicans had delayed changes due to timing concerns, but they acted during the current election. The new primary was scheduled for November 3, the same day as the general election, effectively returning to a jungle primary structure. Other states have also moved to redraw maps, including Florida and Tennessee, with Alabama and Georgia pursuing additional efforts.

"Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry immediately suspended the ongoing election, canceling more than 40,000 already cast votes. Never in modern history have votes cast in a federal election been canceled by a state so it could redraw the maps. Today, the state legislature passed its new maps with one less majority-Black district."

"Yes, the decision was that Louisiana was being forced to discriminate by drawing two of six majority-Black districts in a state with a 30.5% Black population. Louisiana's primary was two weeks ago. That was when Bill Cassidy lost a chance at returning to the Senate for not being quite MAGA enough for his party's tastes."

"In 2022, when federal courts had declared their initial map unconstitutional, the Republican legislature declared that it was too close to an election to make any immediate changes. That did not stop them this year, even though the election was already in progress. Absurdly, the new primary is now scheduled for Nov. 3, the same day as the general election, in effect returning Louisiana to its "jungle primary" days."

"Since the Supreme Court ruling, Florida and Tennessee have also redrawn their maps, and Alabama is currently fighting for the right to do so, even though the state courts have blocked those efforts for now. And Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has called a special session to redraw the maps for 2028."

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