The Supreme Court on Wednesday made a significant decision regarding the congressional map in Louisiana, temporarily reviving a map that includes a second majority-Black district. This move has the potential to increase Democrats’ chances of gaining control of a second congressional seat in the state.
The newly drawn map, approved by Louisiana’s Republican-controlled legislature in January after being directed to redraw it, had been put on hold by a lower court over concerns of racial gerrymandering. However, the Supreme Court’s decision to revive the map will remain in effect pending an appeal or further decision by the court.
The case has been a complex and lengthy one, with multiple challenges from different groups of voters under the Voting Rights Act and the Constitution. The dispute has involved scrutiny from various parties, including governors, legislators, voters, and judges.
One group of Black voters argued that the new map should move forward, citing the Voting Rights Act, while another group of plaintiffs claimed it was a racial gerrymander and should be blocked under the equal protection clause.
In a dissenting opinion, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson acknowledged the complicated nature of the case, which has spanned over two years of litigation. The state’s attorney general urged the justices to act quickly, pointing out that the lower court ruling had left Louisiana without a congressional map just months before the 2024 elections.
The decision by the Supreme Court has brought a temporary resolution to the redistricting issue in Louisiana, but the ultimate outcome remains uncertain as the case continues to unfold.
