Louisiana Must Redraw Congressional Map After SCOTUS Ruling, Governor Says

After the Supreme Court struck down a Louisiana congressional district on Wednesday as “unconstitutional racial gerrymandering,” the state will have to redo its congressional map, Gov. Jeff Landry said in a joint statement with Attorney General Liz Murrill.

Before the Supreme Court ruling, a federal district court issued an injunction against using the current map. The Supreme Court temporarily stayed the injunction before its decision this week terminated that stay, meaning that the court’s prohibition against enforcing the map is back in effect.

A new map from the GOP-controlled state Legislature could give Republicans one to two more seats in the 2026 midterms as the party seeks to hold a slim lead in the House of Representatives.

“Yesterday’s historic Supreme Court victory for Louisiana has an immediate consequence for the State,” Landry and Murrill’s statement said. “The Supreme Court previously stayed an injunction against the State’s enforcement of the current Congressional map.”

“By the Court’s order, however, that stay automatically terminated with yesterday’s decision. Accordingly, the State is currently enjoined from carrying out congressional elections under the current map,” they continued.

Landry and Murrill said they are working with the Legislature and the secretary of state’s office to “develop a path forward.”

The Washington Post reported that Landry will soon suspend the May 16 primary. The next day, early voting is scheduled to begin.

The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that the boundaries of Louisiana’s 6th Congressional District, a majority-minority district, relied too much on race. The ruling could impact which party controls Congress in the years ahead. 

When asked about the ruling and informed it was a win for Republicans, President Donald Trump said on Wednesday, “That’s the kind of ruling I like.”

He said “some states don’t need to redraw, and some do.”

The district is represented by Rep. Cleo Fields, a Democrat. During arguments, Chief Justice John Roberts said the district was drawn like a “snake,” as it stretched more than 200 miles.  

Liberal groups have warned that the case, Louisiana v. Callais, could net Republicans up to 19 new seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, as the ruling could impact parts of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.