Louisiana Republicans have passed a congressional map that dismantles the state's only majority-Black district, a move critics are calling a brazen gerrymander. The new plan, advanced by the GOP-controlled legislature, leaves five of the state's six House seats leaning heavily Republican, according to Politico. This effectively dilutes the voting power of Black residents, who make up nearly a third of Louisiana's population.
The decision comes amid ongoing legal battles over redistricting in the South, where federal courts have repeatedly struck down maps that weaken minority representation. Louisiana was previously ordered to create a second majority-Black district to comply with the Voting Rights Act. The new map defies that pressure, potentially setting up another round of litigation that could reach the Supreme Court.
Politico reports that the map carves up the Baton Rouge-based district of Democratic Representative Cleo Fields, a Black lawmaker, distributing his constituents into surrounding GOP-leaning areas. Republican Governor Jeff Landry is expected to sign the legislation. No specific population or demographic breakdown was provided in the brief account of the map's composition.
The immediate effect would be further entrenching Republican control over Louisiana's congressional delegation, which is currently split 5-1 in favor of the GOP. Civil rights groups have vowed to challenge the map in court, arguing it intentionally diminishes Black political power. The outcome could reshape the state's delegation for the rest of the decade.
Voting rights advocates contend the map violates the Voting Rights Act, but Republicans defend it as a legitimate political line-drawing exercise. The legal fight ahead will test the bounds of partisan gerrymandering in a post-Shelby County landscape.