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SCOTUS Strikes Louisiana Map, Labels Racial Gerrymander

5/1/2026

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Summary

Story summary

The Supreme Court struck down Louisiana’s 2024 congressional map as an unconstitutional racial gerrymander.
The ruling replaces the “results” test with an “intent” test requiring proof of discriminatory purpose.
Justice Elena Kagan warned the new standard could render Section 2 dead, a view echoed by civil-rights groups including the NAACP, which called the decision a setback for Black voters ahead of the 2026 midterms.

History

Historical Context

In 1993 the Supreme Court’s Shaw v. Reno decision, authored by Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, applied strict scrutiny to racial gerrymanders in Louisiana with a 5-4 vote, building on earlier “one-person-one-vote” rulings such as Baker v. Carr (1962). The 2024 challenge, brought by Justice Elena Kagan and the NAACP, revives that precedent as courts consider the state’s new map.

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Story summary

The Supreme Court struck down Louisiana’s 2024 congressional map as an unconstitutional racial gerrymander.
The ruling replaces the “results” test with an “intent” test requiring proof of discriminatory purpose.
Justice Elena Kagan warned the new standard could render Section 2 dead, a view echoed by civil-rights groups including the NAACP, which called the decision a setback for Black voters ahead of the 2026 midterms.

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