Supreme Court rules against majority Black Louisiana district in blow to Voting Rights Act
The Supreme Court on Wednesday struck down a Black majority congressional district in Louisiana, further weakening a key tool of the Voting Rights Act that has helped root out racial discrimination in voting for more than a half century.
In a 6-3 vote, the court’s conservative majority found the state’s second majority Black congressional district, represented by Democrat Cleo Fields, relied too heavily on race. Chief Justice John Roberts had described the district as a “snake” that stretches more than 200 miles to link parts of the Shreveport, Alexandria, Lafayette and Baton Rouge areas.
“That map is an unconstitutional gerrymander,” Justice Samuel Alito wrote for the majority opinion.
It’s unclear how much is left of the provision, known as Section 2, the main way to challenge racially discriminatory election practices.
Not much, Justice Elena Kagan wrote in a dissent for the three liberal justices. “The consequences are likely to be far-reaching and grave. Today’s decision renders Section 2 all but a dead letter,” Kagan wrote.
The 1965 voting rights law, the centerpiece legislation of the Civil Rights Movement, succeeded in opening the ballot box to Black Americans and reducing persistent discrimination in voting.
The ruling could open the door for legislatures to redraw congressional maps in southern states, helping Republican electoral prospects by eliminating majority Black and Latino districts that tend to favor Democrats. Legislatures already are free to draw extremely partisan districts, subject only to review by state courts, because of a 2019 Supreme Court decision.
Nearly 70 of the 435 congressional districts are protected by Section 2, election law expert Nicholas Stephanopoulos has estimated.
The court heard the case for a second time in October and it’s not clear whether the decision was issued early enough for some states, including Louisiana, to consider a new round of redistricting ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, in which Republicans are trying to preserve a thin majority.
President Donald Trump had already touched off a nationwide redistricting battle to boost Republican chances.
Legislatures already are free to draw extremely partisan districts because of a 2019 Supreme Court decision.
The court did an about-face from a decision in a similar case from Alabama less than three years ago that led to a new congressional map for the state that sent two Black Democrats to Congress.
The Alabama decision also prompted Louisiana lawmakers to add a second majority Black district. About a third of Louisianans are Black and they now form majorities in two of the state’s six congressional districts. Alabama has a separate appeal pending at the Supreme Court.
This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.
From breaking news and local politics to art exhibitions, live music, high school sports, small businesses, and cultural events, we celebrate the people and places that make Connecticut unique.