Story perspectives

Louisiana Redraws Map, Cuts Black District, Sets Open Primary

5/15/2026

Center

Louisiana GOP Redraws

Louisiana’s congressional map, drawn by Republican legislators, eliminates one of the state’s two majority-Black districts after a Supreme Court ruling.
The Republican-controlled Senate approved the map, reducing Louisiana’s majority-Black districts from two to one.
Governor Jeff Landry suspended the May 16 congressional primaries and set an open primary for November 3.
It would give Republicans five of six seats, forcing Carter and Fields to clash.

Left

Louisiana Halts

Louisiana halted the May 13 U.S. House primary even though roughly 45,000 absentee ballots had already been cast.
Senators approved a congressional map that allocates Republicans five of the state’s six House seats.
Democratic lawmakers and protesters called the plan discriminatory and reported death threats against its sponsor.
The bill earmarks $2,934,660 to mail notices to 2,964,303 voters, without funding reprints or education.

Blindspot

Center coverage emphasized that the new map eliminates one of Louisiana’s two majority-Black districts, a detail absent from Left coverage.
Center coverage noted the possibility that Democratic incumbents Troy Carter and Cleo Fields could be forced into a single race, which Left coverage did not mention.

History

Historical Context

In 1974 the Supreme Court’s Milliken v. Bradley decision barred mandatory busing across Detroit’s 53 school districts, limiting desegregation orders to individual districts unless intentional segregation was proven. The ruling spurred white flight, leaving Detroit Public Schools over 90% Black by 1987 and cementing segregation patterns that later shaped district drawing. This legacy underpins today’s challenges to Voting Rights Act-based redistricting in the Deep South.

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Louisiana GOP Redraws

Louisiana’s congressional map, drawn by Republican legislators, eliminates one of the state’s two majority-Black districts after a Supreme Court ruling.
The Republican-controlled Senate approved the map, reducing Louisiana’s majority-Black districts from two to one.
Governor Jeff Landry suspended the May 16 congressional primaries and set an open primary for November 3.
It would give Republicans five of six seats, forcing Carter and Fields to clash.

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