Louisiana GOP eliminates majority-Black district after Supreme Court weakens Voting Rights Act in Callais v. Louisiana

The new Louisiana congressional map, passed by the GOP-controlled legislature and signed by Republican Governor Jeff Landry on May 29, 2026, eliminates one of the state's two majority-Black districts, leaving only one district where Black voters have a realistic opportunity to elect their preferred candidates. According to news reports, the map is expected to help elect five Republicans and one Democrat, netting the GOP one additional seat. This action follows directly from the U.S. Supreme Court's April 29, 2026 decision in Callais v. Louisiana, which struck down the state's previous map containing two majority-Black districts, holding that racial considerations cannot predominate in district drawing and narrowing Section 2 by requiring plaintiffs to show intentional discrimination rather than just discriminatory effects.

The electoral consequence is a stark reduction in Black voting power in Louisiana, where Black residents make up about one-third of the population but will now have only one district out of six where they can realistically elect candidates of their choice. While specific turnout impacts are not documented in available sources, the loss of a majority-minority district typically depresses political engagement and representation for that community. The map is a direct consequence of the weakening of Section 2, which—combined with the earlier gutting of Section 5 preclearance in Shelby County v. Holder—leaves voters of color with far fewer tools to challenge discriminatory redistricting plans. An alternative approach would be Congress restoring the Voting Rights Act's preclearance formula and clarifying that Section 2 allows challenges based on discriminatory effects alone, as well as establishing independent redistricting commissions in states to prevent partisan and racial gerrymandering.