Louisiana Legislature Approves New Congressional Map Following Supreme Court Ruling

Louisiana lawmakers approved a new congressional redistricting map on Thursday after the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated the state's existing map.

The Supreme Court found the current map unconstitutional in a ruling this year. Republican lawmakers, who hold majorities in both chambers of the legislature, controlled the redistricting process and developed the replacement map.

Under the new map, Louisiana will have one congressional district with a Black majority population, compared with two under the previous configuration. The revised map redraws district lines across the state to create different demographic compositions.

Democratic lawmakers expressed opposition to the proposed map during legislative debate. They argued the new configuration diminished Black voting power in the state. Republican legislators said their map complied with the Supreme Court's requirements and other legal standards governing redistricting.

The map now goes to Gov. Jeff Landry, a Republican, for his approval or veto. Landry has not indicated how he will respond.

The Supreme Court's decision prompted the legislature to act quickly to produce a replacement map before the 2024 election cycle advanced. State lawmakers completed their work within weeks of the ruling.

Louisiana has two U.S. representatives from each party under the current congressional delegation. The redistricting process, controlled by the majority party, typically follows each decennial census. Midcycle redistricting occurs less frequently and usually requires a court order or significant demographic shifts.

Voting rights organizations have challenged racial gerrymandering cases in Louisiana and other Southern states, claiming some maps diluted Black voting strength. The Supreme Court has heard multiple redistricting cases in recent years, producing rulings that shaped how states draw district lines.