Full Breakdown
Louisiana Congressional Primaries Suspended After Supreme Court Ruling on Racial Gerrymander
5/2/2026, 4:57:25 AM
Supreme Court Ruling Halts Congressional Primaries
On April 30, 2026 the U.S. Supreme Court issued a 6-3 opinion striking down Louisiana’s congressional map as an unconstitutional racial gerrymander, removing the second majority-Black district and ending a prior stay. The decision enjoined the state from holding the May 16 primaries under the current map.
Background: Map History and Voting Rights Act
After the 2020 census Louisiana drew one Black-majority district and five mostly white districts. A federal judge ruled the map violated the Voting Rights Act, prompting the legislature to add a second Black-majority district. The Court held the Act does not require an extra majority-minority district and declared the race-based design unconstitutional.
State Leaders Suspend Primaries and Seek New Map
Governor Jeff Landry and Attorney General Liz Murrill said the state is enjoined from holding congressional elections under the current map. Landry signed an order suspending the House primaries and tasked the legislature and Secretary of State Nancy Landry with drafting a new map. Early voting slated for Saturday will continue, but any House votes will not be counted.
Political Impact and Seat Projections
Louisiana’s delegation now has four Republicans and two Democrats. Analysts say a new map could add at least one Republican seat, shifting the balance from 6-2 to possibly 7-1 in the November 2026 midterms. Republicans see an opportunity to expand their majority; Democrats warn it could erode Black representation. Sources differ on the exact gain, with some citing at least one additional seat and others projecting a 7-1 delegation.
Democratic Opposition to the Suspension
State Senator Royce Duplessis, a Democrat from New Orleans, said the suspension creates confusion for all voters and likened the mid-election rule change to rigging the system. Democrats argue the ruling weakens minority-voter protections.
Voter and Candidate Reactions on the Ground
Election offices will post notices at early-voting sites, and absentee ballots have already been mailed. Republican candidate Misti Cordell called the delay “an inconvenience” but said the advance warning prevented premature campaign spending. Voters expecting to vote Saturday now face uncertainty about when their ballots will count.
Verbatim Quotes
"This is going to cause mass confusion among voters — Democrats, Republicans, White, Black, everybody." — Royce Duplessis, State Senator
"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." — Samuel Alito, Justice
"The State is currently enjoined from carrying out congressional elections under the current map." — Jeff Landry, Governor
"Allowing elections to proceed under an unconstitutional map would undermine the integrity of our system and violate the rights of our voters." — Jeff Landry, Governor
