Washington D.C. — The Supreme Court struck down Louisiana’s congressional map and limited the consideration of race when drawing district boundaries. The ruling could have major implications for future House elections.
Lower courts had required Louisiana to create a second majority-Black congressional district under Section 2 of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. The Trump administration and state officials challenged the map, arguing it constituted an unconstitutional racial gerrymander violating the 14th Amendment’s equal protection clause.
The court addressed whether the framework from its 2023 Allen v. Milligan decision, which required a second majority-Black district in Alabama, remains consistent with constitutional standards. Chief Justice John Roberts examined the proposal in light of established precedents. Justice Brett Kavanaugh raised the possibility of a “sunset” clause for Section 2 remedies, referencing limits on race-based policies.
About one-third of Louisiana’s population is African-American. The state has two Democratic lawmakers elected from majority-Black districts and four Republican House members.
Voting rights organizations aligned with Democrats warned that restricting Section 2 could allow Republican-led legislatures to redraw boundaries in as many as 19 congressional districts to their advantage. Research identified 27 seats nationwide that could shift toward Republicans if Section 2 protections are limited, with 19 directly tied to the ruling.
The decision is expected to prompt map redraws in multiple states ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Democrats had been favored to retake the House, but the ruling could alter that outlook.
The Supreme Court’s action follows legal challenges in several states over redistricting. It emphasizes equal protection principles and limits on race-based districting while states comply with constitutional requirements.
The ruling sets the stage for further litigation and map adjustments as states prepare for upcoming elections. Both parties are assessing the impact on House control.
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