Full Breakdown
Supreme Court Ruling Halts Louisiana Congressional Primaries
5/1/2026, 1:44:16 AM
Primary Suspension
A 6-3 Supreme Court ruling on April 29 declared Louisiana’s congressional map unconstitutional, enjoining the state from the May 16 primary. Early voting had been set to start that weekend. Governor Jeff Landry and Attorney General Liz Murrill announced the suspension, citing the court’s order.
Redistricting Background
After the 2020 census, Louisiana drew a map with one Black-majority district and five white districts in a state one-third Black. A federal judge struck the map for violating the Voting Rights Act; the legislature added a second Black-majority district, which the Court ruled unconstitutional. The decision follows a mid-decade redistricting wave spurred by former President Donald Trump.
Key Figures
Governor Jeff Landry, Attorney General Liz Murrill, Rep. Cleo Fields (D-LA) and House Speaker Mike Johnson are the primary officials. Louisiana is 33 % Black and its delegation holds four Republicans and two Democrats. The invalidated map had two majority-Black districts; the Court split 6-3 to strike it.
Official Statements
Landry and Murrill said the state is “enjoined from carrying out congressional elections under the current map” and that they are working with the legislature and secretary of state to develop a path forward. House Speaker Mike Johnson added the governor “has no choice but to suspend” the primary because courts ruled the map unconstitutional.
Criticism
Democratic Senator Royce Duplessis warned the suspension will “cause mass confusion among voters—Democrats, Republicans, white, Black, everybody,” calling it “rigging the system.” Power Coalition founder Ashley Shelton said failure to adopt a new map could lead to “disenfranchisement,” arguing the move undermines Black voting power protected by the Voting Rights Act.
Conflicting Reports
Sources disagree on whether early voting can continue after the injunction; some say it may proceed, others expect legal challenges. A few analysts suggest reverting to the 2022 map, which gave Democrats one seat, but the filing deadline has passed, leaving the timeline for a replacement unclear. No definitive rescheduling plan has been announced.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This is going to cause mass confusion among voters -- Democrats, Republicans, white, Black, everybody,” — Royce Duplessis, state senator (D-LA)
- “because the courts just ruled our map unconstitutional.” — Mike Johnson, House Speaker
- “If we don’t move with the current maps, I mean … the only outcome is disenfranchisement,” — Ashley Shelton, Power Coalition
- “Because the Voting Rights Act did not require Louisiana to create an additional majority-minority district, no compelling interest justified the state’s use of race in creating SB8,” — Justice Samuel Alito
What’s Next
Louisiana lawmakers are expected to convene a special session to draw a new congressional map before the November 2026 elections. The revised map could shift the partisan balance, potentially adding a Republican seat. The Court’s ruling also signals a broader shift that may affect redistricting in other Southern states, with full effects likely to appear in the 2028 cycle.
