Louisiana’s legislature approves a new congressional district map that removes one of the state’s two majority-Black seats. Multiple outlets report that the change follows a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling striking down Louisiana’s prior map as an unconstitutional racial gerrymander and citing the Voting Rights Act. After the ruling, Republican lawmakers move to redraw districts, reconfiguring the state’s Sixth Congressional District, which is currently represented by Democratic Rep. Cleo Fields and described as running from Shreveport to Baton Rouge.
News organizations say the final map would leave Louisiana with only one majority-Black district instead of two, and it is designed to improve Republicans’ chances in the November election. Several outlets describe the expected political outcome as a likely Republican gain in at least one seat if the map survives further legal challenges. The legislation then advances to Republican Gov. Jeff Landry, who is expected to sign it, according to at least one report. The Supreme Court decision and the resulting redistricting effort are described as part of a wider process affecting Southern states.
