Supreme Court narrows Voting Rights Act in Louisiana case

The Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling on April 29 that significantly limited the reach of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. The decision in Louisiana v. Callais has prompted several states to redraw congressional maps. Lawmakers in affected states have cited partisan reasons for the changes.

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Illustration of Supreme Court ruling against Louisiana redistricting map
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Supreme Court strikes down Louisiana congressional map, tightening limits on race-conscious redistricting

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The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6–3 on April 29, 2026, in Louisiana v. Callais that Louisiana’s congressional map (SB8) was an unconstitutional racial gerrymander, concluding the Voting Rights Act did not require the state to draw an additional majority-Black district. Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., called the ruling “a massive and devastating blow,” warning it could accelerate redistricting fights across Southern states ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

The US Supreme Court issued a 6-3 decision in Callais v. Louisiana, significantly weakening Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act following October 2025 oral arguments. Critics argue the ruling, led by the Republican-appointed majority, invites states to redraw maps entrenching racial disenfranchisement. Republicans expressed satisfaction with the outcome.

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The U.S. Supreme Court last week issued a ruling in Louisiana v. Callais that dismantled key elements of the Voting Rights Act. The decision has prompted swift redistricting efforts in multiple states. Revelations about the lead plaintiff have also surfaced.

In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court's April 29, 2026, decision in Louisiana v. Callais declaring the state's congressional map an unconstitutional racial gerrymander (as covered previously in this series), Louisiana has suspended its upcoming primaries for U.S. House races. The ruling affects one of the state's two Democratic-held majority-Black districts. Other primaries, including U.S. Senate, proceed May 16.

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Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry (R) postponed the state's U.S. House primaries until at least mid-July via emergency executive order following the Supreme Court's April 29, 2026, ruling in Louisiana v. Callais, which struck down the congressional map as unconstitutional under the Voting Rights Act. The move, praised by President Trump and Speaker Mike Johnson but challenged by a lawsuit, has caused voter confusion amid ongoing early voting for other races, as Republicans eye redistricting gains.

New congressional maps in Texas, Florida, Louisiana, Alabama, Tennessee and North Carolina have split many majority-Black and plurality-Black districts into majority-White areas. The changes follow a Supreme Court decision that weakened Voting Rights Act protections. Republicans say the maps aim to strengthen their position ahead of midterms.

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A POLITICO/Public First survey conducted May 9–11 finds a plurality of Democrats say their party should respond to Republican redistricting efforts even if it results in fewer majority-minority districts. The results come weeks after the Supreme Court’s April 29 decision in Louisiana v. Callais, which narrowed how Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act can be used in redistricting disputes.

 

 

 

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