The Louisiana legislature on Friday gave final approval to a new congressional map that favors Republicans and eliminates a Black-majority district, wrapping up a fast-moving redistricting fight ahead of the June 1 end of the legislative session.The measure had already cleared the state Senate in an earlier 27–10 vote before the House amended the proposal this week, sending it back for final Senate approval. The bill passed after roughly seven hours of debate, with nearly all House Democrats speaking in opposition. The map, which is expected to shift Louisiana’s congressional delegation from a 4-2 Republican majority to a stronger 5-1 GOP majority, is now headed to the Gov. Jeff Landry’s (R-LA), where he is expected to promptly sign it into law.
Graphic by Grace Hagerman/Washington Examiner
The new map comes in response to a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down Louisiana’s existing congressional map and rolled back the Voting Rights Act, finding that lawmakers had relied too heavily on race when drawing the Bayou State’s 6th Congressional District.
The revised plan reshapes that district, currently represented by Rep. Cleo Fields (D-LA), in a way that makes it more favorable to Republicans. Meanwhile, the 2nd Congressional District, represented by Rep. Troy Carter (D-LA), would remain a majority-Black district.
