Supreme Court Strikes Down Louisiana Congressional Map

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that Louisiana's congressional map, which created a second majority-Black district, violated the Constitution by relying excessively on race in districting. In the majority opinion written by Justice Samuel Alito, the court stated that "the State’s attempt to create an additional majority-black district produced a map that violated the Equal Protection Clause," according to the decision in Callais v.

Landry. The ruling clarified the framework for evaluating claims under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, emphasizing that race cannot predominate in redistricting without a compelling justification tied to the Act's requirements. Alito noted that "conditions in the South have dramatically improved since the Voting Rights Act was enacted in 1965," citing increased minority voter participation and representation.

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry issued an executive order suspending the state's U.S. House primaries, originally scheduled for May 16, 2026, with early voting set to begin on May 1, 2026. Secretary of State Nancy Landry confirmed that ballots cast in House races during early voting would not be counted, providing time for the legislature to enact a new map.

The Republican-controlled legislature is expected to convene to redraw districts in compliance with the ruling.

The case stemmed from a challenge by non-African American voters who argued the map constituted an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. A lower court had initially ordered the creation of the second majority-Black district to comply with Section 2, but the Supreme Court reversed that, finding the state's use of racial data predominated over traditional districting principles.

Democratic lawmakers and advocates expressed criticism. Sen. Raphael Warnock said in an interview with The Hill on April 29, 2026, that the ruling is "Jim Crow in new clothes" and represents a setback for Black voters, comparing it to historical barriers like literacy tests and poll taxes.

" Stacey Abrams told The Times on April 30, 2026, that "the Voting Rights Act ended 150 years of Jim Crow and finally gave truth to the 15th Amendment," warning the ruling chips away at democratic protections.

In dissent, Justice Elena Kagan, joined by Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson, wrote that the majority's approach amounts to a "now-complete demolition" of the Voting Rights Act's effectiveness in redistricting cases.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, said in a statement reported by Hot Air on April 30, 2026, that "now would be a good time for states with unconstitutional maps to redraw them," suggesting the ruling provides clarity on avoiding race-based gerrymandering.

Nonpartisan analysts, including those from the Cook Political Report and Sabato’s Crystal Ball, indicated the decision could affect up to seven congressional seats in states like Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, and South Carolina, potentially shifting partisan balances.

The ruling follows broader redistricting efforts nationwide ahead of the 2026 midterms. In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis approved a new map that redrew a district in central Florida, according to reports. No public statements from the U.S. Department of Justice on the ruling were included in available sources as of April 30, 2026.

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 aimed to eliminate discriminatory practices such as poll taxes and literacy tests that disenfranchised Black voters. The Supreme Court's decision noted that while Section 2 remains in force, its application must align with constitutional limits on racial classifications.