Louisiana Senate Passes Map Cutting Majority‑Black District, GOP Set for 5‑1 Edge

TL;DR: The Louisiana Senate approved a new congressional map by a 27‑10 vote, eliminating one of the state’s two majority‑Black districts and setting up a likely 5‑1 Republican advantage. Governor Jeff Landry also halted the House primary despite 45,000 absentee ballots already cast.

The map follows a Supreme Court ruling in Louisiana v. Callais that weakened the Voting Rights Act, prompting several Southern states to redraw districts to reduce Black voting power. Louisiana’s legislature, controlled by Republican supermajorities, moved quickly to adopt a map nearly identical to the 2022 version that produced a 5‑1 GOP edge. The new plan reshapes District 6, currently represented by Democrat Cleo Fields, shifting its core to predominantly white suburbs around Baton Rouge and south Louisiana while keeping District 2, held by Democrat Troy Carter, as a Black‑majority seat covering New Orleans to part of Baton Rouge.

Senators voted 27‑10 in favor of the bill, which now proceeds to the House for approval before a June 1 deadline. Governor Landry’s decision to suspend the primary came after 45,000 absentee ballots had been submitted, a step unprecedented during the Civil War, World Wars, or the Covid pandemic. During debate, Democratic Senator Sidney Barthelemy II said that because roughly 80 % of Louisiana Republicans are white, drawing lines based on party effectively uses race as a predominant factor.

If the House endorses the map, Republicans could secure five of Louisiana’s six congressional seats, diminishing Democratic influence in the state’s delegation. The changes are likely to face legal challenges under the remaining provisions of the Voting Rights Act, especially given the recent Supreme Court decision. Voters in the affected districts may see altered representation and campaign dynamics ahead of the November election.

The state House’s vote on the bill, any ensuing court filings, and how parties adjust their strategies for the open primary scheduled for November 3.