Story perspectives

Court Blocks Louisiana Map, Citing Gerrymander, Sparks Voting Rights Concerns

5/2/2026

Summary

Story summary

April 29, 2026, Court struck down Louisiana’s congressional map as a gerrymander in a 6-3 ruling.
Democratic members, including Rep. Cleo Fields, said the ruling narrows Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act and is a grave setback.
Court remanded the case without ordering a new map, raising doubt about meeting the May 16 deadline.
Jesús “Chuy” García, Bennie G. Thompson, Kweisi Mfume and Steve Cohen urged Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.

History

Historical Context

In August 1965 President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act, banning literacy tests, covering 13 Southern states and providing $250 million for voter-registration under Section 2. The 2013 Shelby County v. Holder ruling eliminated the preclearance formula, and later cases such as Brnovich (2021) and Louisiana v. Callais (2026) further narrowed Section 2. The Fifth Circuit’s 6-3 decision striking Louisiana’s congressional map echoes Act’s goal to stop vote dilution.

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Story summary

April 29, 2026, Court struck down Louisiana’s congressional map as a gerrymander in a 6-3 ruling.
Democratic members, including Rep. Cleo Fields, said the ruling narrows Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act and is a grave setback.
Court remanded the case without ordering a new map, raising doubt about meeting the May 16 deadline.
Jesús “Chuy” García, Bennie G. Thompson, Kweisi Mfume and Steve Cohen urged Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.

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