Full Breakdown
Louisiana Senate Passes Map That Dismantles One Majority-Black Congressional District
5/15/2026, 8:31:58 AM
Core Event
On May 14, the Republican-controlled Louisiana Senate voted 27-10 to adopt Senate Bill 121, a congressional redistricting plan that eliminates the state’s second majority-Black district. The revised map would concentrate Black voters in a single district (the current New Orleans-based 2nd) and reshape the former 6th district—now represented by Democrat Cleo Fields—into a Republican-leaning seat anchored in Baton Rouge and south Louisiana. The bill now moves to the House, which must act by June 1.
Background & Context
The change follows the U.S. Supreme Court’s April 29 decision in *Louisiana v. Callais*, which held that the Court could no longer enforce Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act (VRA) when states draw districts. The ruling declared Louisiana’s 2022 map—designed to create a second majority-Black district—an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. Governor Jeff Landry subsequently suspended the May 16 congressional primaries, despite more than 45,000 absentee ballots already cast.
Timeline
- April 29, 2026 – Supreme Court limits VRA protections in *Callais*.
- May 13 – Gov. Landry issues an executive order halting the congressional primary.
- May 14 – Senate passes SB 121 (27-10).
- By June 1 – House must approve the map for it to take effect.
- Nov 3, 2026 – Planned open primary for U.S. House seats if the map is enacted.
Data & Statistics
- Vote on SB 121: 27 Republicans, 10 Democrats.
- Projected delegation under the new map: 5 Republicans, 1 Democrat.
- Black residents comprise roughly one-third of Louisiana’s population.
- Over 45,000 absentee ballots and more than 40,000 early-vote ballots were already submitted before the primary suspension.
Key Figures & Groups
- Sen. Jay Morris (R) – Sponsor of SB 121.
- Gov. Jeff Landry (R) – Ordered primary suspension; defends the map as race-neutral.
- Rep. Troy Carter (D-LA-2) – Holds the remaining majority-Black district; warns of reduced Black representation.
- Rep. Cleo Fields (D-LA-6) – Opposes the map and says he will fight it legally.
- Democratic senators Sidney Barthelemy II, Royce Duplessis, Sam Jenkins, Katrina Jackson-Andrews – vocal critics.
- House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA-4) – Emphasizes constitutional compliance.
Official Statements & Responses
Landry argued that the Supreme Court “requires us to stop making decisions based on race.” Morris said the plan “maximizes Republican advantage for incumbent Republicans.” Carter warned that the map “threatens the ability of Black voters to elect candidates of their choice.” Fields pledged to “fight to ensure fair representation.” Jackson-Andrews called for a map that “gives everyone a voice.” Johnson stressed that “you can’t have an election on an unconstitutional map.”
Criticism & Opposition
Democratic lawmakers contend the map “uses race as a predominant factor” (Barthelemy) and is a “political power grab” (Jenkins). Duplessis asserted that “you can’t bring a map like this… and think we’re just supposed to take it.” Jackson-Andrews noted that “35.6 % of registered voters are Republican, yet they would control 83 % of the congressional delegation.” Civil-rights activists described the effort as “undoing decades of progress” (Leona Tate).
On-the-Ground Reports
Local seniors such as Press Robinson recalled the Voting Rights Act as “the keystone” that enabled Black political participation. Historian James Verrett likened the current move to “being beaten with billy sticks, dogs and tear gas” during earlier civil-rights struggles. Leona Tate, who helped desegregate New Orleans schools, called the decision “cheating” and “illegal.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Republican leaders claim the map is drawn solely on partisan data, while Democratic senators argue that partisan patterns are inseparable from race, creating a de facto racial gerrymander. The exact legal standing of the map remains unsettled, and no final House vote has occurred. Details on how the open primary will be administered are still pending.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I would argue that if 80% of the Republican party is white, that [race] is a predominant factor – this amendment, and this bill in general, does use race as a predominant factor,” — Sidney Barthelemy II, State Senator (D)
- “You can’t bring a map like this, that’s gonna reduce representation, and think we’re just supposed to take it,” — Royce Duplessis, State Senator (D)
- “It is perfectly fine for us to redraw maps based upon politics. These maps are drawn to maximize Republican advantage for the incumbent Republicans that we have in Congress at the present time,” — Jay Morris, State Senator (R)
- “You cannot do racial gerrymandering in order to get a part of a partisan outcome. That is still illegal, and that’s what this map does,” — Sam Jenkins, State Senator (D)
- “The best way to end race-based discrimination is to stop making decisions based on race,” — Jeff Landry, Governor (R)
- “We as a people can gerrymander on partisan grounds, but not on racial grounds. In Louisiana, though, 80 percent of the Republicans are white, and 90 percent of the Democrats are Black. So it’s hard to separate race and partisan politics,” — Jim Engster, Political Analyst
Why It Matters
The map could shift Louisiana’s congressional delegation from a 4-2 to a 5-1 Republican advantage, influencing the narrow national House majority. It also tests the Supreme Court’s narrowed VRA, potentially reshaping minority representation nationwide.
What’s Next
The Senate bill proceeds to the House for a vote before the June 1 deadline. Anticipated lawsuits will likely challenge the map’s compliance with the Constitution. If passed, an open primary is slated for Nov 3, with a runoff on Dec 12 if no candidate secures a majority.
