Supreme Court Takes Up Louisiana’s Congressional Map Case
As the United States heads towards the next decade’s census, the Supreme Court is still grappling with legal challenges stemming from the previous census. This week, the court is set to review a case concerning Louisiana’s congressional district map, which was modified to include two districts with a majority Black population, reflecting a significant change for the state’s political landscape.
Louisiana’s population is roughly one-third Black, and for the first time, the state’s congressional map allows for two districts to potentially elect Black Democrats to Congress. This shift comes after a pivotal ruling two years ago, where the Supreme Court determined that Alabama’s previous congressional map, which included only one majority Black district, unfairly discriminated against Black voters and violated federal law.
In an interesting twist, the state government’s Republican leadership, which adapted the congressional map to meet the court’s guidelines, finds itself alongside civil rights groups in a rare partnership. Typically, these organizations are at odds with the state’s attempts at redistricting.
A decision from the Supreme Court on this matter is expected by late June.
The Journey So Far
The road to this point has been complex and drawn out. The battle over Louisiana’s congressional districts has spanned three years, during which two district maps were blocked by lower courts, prompting intervention from the Supreme Court on two occasions. Most recently, the court mandated a new map for the upcoming 2024 elections.
In 2022, the Republican-majority legislature crafted a new congressional map to align with population changes identified in the 2020 Census. However, the revisions primarily upheld the existing distribution, which maintained five Republican-leaning majority white districts and one Democratic-leaning majority Black district.
Civil rights advocates successfully argued in lower courts that the map likely infringed upon the voting rights of Black residents. While the Supreme Court temporarily set aside that ruling to consider the Alabama case, it allowed both states to utilize their congressional maps during the 2022 elections, despite previous discrimination findings.
After affirming Alabama’s ruling, the Supreme Court sent the Louisiana case back to federal court, expecting new maps to be prepared for the upcoming elections. Louisiana’s 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has since given lawmakers until early 2024 to create a new map, or face a court-imposed alternative.
Key Questions Facing the Court
One of the central questions before the Supreme Court is whether race was the main factor in shaping the new congressional map. White Louisiana voters have raised concerns through a separate lawsuit, arguing that racial considerations played a dominant role. A three-judge panel supported their claim.
Conversely, Governor Jeff Landry and other officials assert that political considerations were prioritized over racial demographics in determining the district boundaries, aiming to create safe districts for Republican representatives like House Speaker Mike Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise. They argue that the necessity for a second majority Black district exists due to the anticipated loss of a Republican congressional seat, as noted by State Attorney General Elizabeth Murrill.
A further complication involves a Republican lawmaker whose district was modified; he chose not to run for re-election, indicating potential political repercussions.
A Proposal for Change
Louisiana officials express frustration over conflicting lawsuits regarding redistricting, and they propose that these cases should not fall under the jurisdiction of federal courts. This suggestion, if accepted, could lead to significant changes in how redistricting is handled across the nation.
The Supreme Court, with a conservative majority, previously ruled against federal intervention in cases of partisan gerrymandering. Justice Clarence Thomas has also pushed for limiting the court’s involvement in race-based redistricting, emphasizing that drawing election maps should be the responsibility of politicians rather than judges.
However, it’s not necessary for the court to tackle this broader issue to resolve the specific case at hand.
New District Dynamics
Under the newly drawn map, the 6th Congressional District now encompasses parts of Shreveport, Alexandria, Lafayette, and Baton Rouge, with the percentage of Black voters increasing significantly from 25% to 55%. This change helped elect Cleo Fields, a Black Democrat, who returned to Congress after years of absence.
Upcoming Election Changes
Additionally, Louisiana has revised its election process, replacing the jungle primary system with partisan primaries in the spring, leading to a November runoff between the party nominees. This change allows candidates to begin collecting signatures as early as September for the primary ballot in 2026.
However, if the Supreme Court overrules the congressional map, there will be minimal time to establish a new one before this crucial election cycle begins.
