Supreme Court Greenlights Louisiana's Congressional Map with Two Majority-Black Districts
WASHINGTON — In a significant development in Louisiana’s ongoing redistricting saga, the Supreme Court on Wednesday approved the use of a new congressional map for this year’s elections, featuring two majority-Black districts. This decision comes after a contentious legal battle over the state’s district lines.
The high court's ruling responded to emergency requests from an unusual coalition of Republican state officials and civil rights groups. Both parties sought to block a lower court's decision that had invalidated the latest map. State officials emphasized the urgency, noting that finalizing the map by Wednesday was crucial to meet bureaucratic deadlines and prevent electoral "disarray."
Historically, Black voters have predominantly supported Democratic candidates. The inclusion of two majority-Black districts in the new map could potentially enable Democrats to secure an additional seat, a strategic gain in the narrowly divided House of Representatives.
The court’s three liberal justices dissented. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson argued that the state had sufficient time to create a map addressing the legal concerns raised. "There is little risk of voter confusion from a new map being imposed this far out from the November election," Jackson wrote. The Supreme Court currently holds a 6-3 conservative majority.
The liberal justices have previously expressed opposition when the court intervened to block changes to district maps or election laws during an election year, actions often perceived as benefiting Republicans. In 2022, internal divisions were highlighted when the court blocked a ruling invalidating Alabama’s congressional map. Conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh defended that decision, emphasizing the importance of maintaining clear and consistent election rules during an election year.
The majority did not provide detailed reasoning in Wednesday's decision.
Louisiana's redistricting has been fraught with legal challenges, with initial maps being ruled as racial gerrymanders. Under the Legislature's original map, Republicans won five of the six districts in the 2022 elections.
