Story perspectives

Louisiana Governor Halts House Races After Court Nullifies Map

5/13/2026

Summary

Story summary

Governor Jeff Landry declared emergency and halted Louisiana’s House races after the Supreme Court invalidated the map.
The Court ruled one Black-majority district unconstitutional, prompting new redistricting.
The Senate committee heard four proposals, including Ed Price’s plan to keep two majority-minority districts and Jay Morris’s plans to cut them.
State Senator Gary Carter left the committee, prompting Democrats to warn that discarding over 100,000 early-vote ballots could cause harm.

History

Historical Context

1993’s Shaw v. Reno decision, written by Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, held that North Carolina’s snake-shaped majority-Black district violated the Equal Protection Clause, prompting strict-scrutiny review of racial gerrymanders and noting a DOJ estimate that the plan diluted Black voting strength by about 12 %. Louisiana’s current debate, led by Governor Jeff Landry and Senate committees over two majority-minority districts, echoes that precedent.

1 of 2

Story summary

Governor Jeff Landry declared emergency and halted Louisiana’s House races after the Supreme Court invalidated the map.
The Court ruled one Black-majority district unconstitutional, prompting new redistricting.
The Senate committee heard four proposals, including Ed Price’s plan to keep two majority-minority districts and Jay Morris’s plans to cut them.
State Senator Gary Carter left the committee, prompting Democrats to warn that discarding over 100,000 early-vote ballots could cause harm.

1 / 2