Supreme Court ruling could void Louisiana congressional map without second Black district
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A surprise U.S. Supreme Court ruling Thursday overthrowing Alabama's congressional map because it dilutes Black voting power could also erase Louisiana's congressional boundaries challenged for the same reason and require Louisiana to add a second majority black district.
The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in favor of Alabama's Black voters with conservative justices John Roberts and Brett Kavanaugh joining the bench's three-justice liberal wing in ordering Alabama to draw a second majority Black District out of seven to reflect that state's 25% Black population.
Louisiana's case had been put on hold until after the court could rule on Alabama because of the cases' similarities.
Louisiana's Republican Legislature passed a new map in February 2022 that kept five of the state's six congressional districts with white majorities, then overrode Gov. John Bel Edwards' veto of the map, which prompted a lawsuit from civil rights groups.
U.S. Middle District Judge Shelly Dick later ruled that the map violated the Voting Rights Act and ordered lawmakers to draw new boundaries that increased Black voting power.
After lawmakers failed to pass a new map during a June 2022 Special Session, Dick said she would draw one herself and had been scheduled to identify new boundaries during a hearing before the Supreme Court put Louisiana's case on hold.
Those who argued for a second majority Black district in Louisiana noted the state's Black population equaled about one-third and that the number of seats should reflect that ratio.
Edwards issued a statement Thursday supporting the Supreme Court decision.
“As I said when I vetoed it, Louisiana's current congressional map violates the Voting Rights Act," Edwards said. "Louisiana’s voting population is one-third Black. We know that in compliance with the principles of the Voting Rights Act, Louisiana can and should have a congressional map where two of our six districts are majority Black. Today's decision reaffirms that.”
Democratic New Orleans Rep. Troy Carter, Louisiana's only Black member of Congress, immediately tweeted following the ruling.
"Math is math," Carter tweeted. "The law REQUIRES Louisiana to have a second majority-minority seat. I look forward to our state having another opportunity to finally get this right.
USA Today is seeking comment from Louisiana Republican Attorney Jeff Landry, who has defended the Louisiana map in court.
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Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1.
This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Supreme Court ruling could undo Louisiana congressional map
