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Supreme Court Weighs Louisiana Redistricting Case That Could Narrow Section 2

Oral arguments suggested the conservative majority may limit Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, with a ruling expected by June.

Overview

  • The consolidated Louisiana v. Callais and Robinson v. Callais cases test whether courts can require majority‑minority districts as a Section 2 remedy and whether Louisiana’s 2024 map was an unconstitutional racial gerrymander.
  • Lower courts ruled the state’s 2022 map unlawfully diluted Black voting power and ordered a second majority‑Black district, then a separate panel blocked the 2024 remedial map for allowing race to predominate.
  • Plaintiffs led by the Trump administration and Louisiana officials argue the second majority‑Black district violated the Fourteenth Amendment by making race the central factor in how it was drawn.
  • Potential ripple effects include scrutiny of roughly 30 Black‑majority or plurality districts identified by Ballotpedia, with Democrats such as Rep. Cleo Fields noted in reports as especially exposed to a narrowed standard.
  • Media outlets including the New York Post, cited by the Daily Caller, speculate that a limitation on Section 2 could net Republicans nine or more House seats in 2026, a projection that remains unconfirmed.