Story perspectives

Louisiana House Advances Bill Erasing Black District, Boosts GOP

5/22/2026

Left

Louisiana Legislators Advance Redistricting

Testimony urging lawmakers not to act was ignored as Louisiana legislators advanced a bill to undo a majority-Black district.
The Louisiana House and Governmental Affairs Committee moved the remapping bill to the floor with a 10-7 party-line vote.
The map would erase one of two majority-Black districts, giving Republicans five of six seats.
Governor Jeff Landry suspended the congressional primary, a move now facing multiple lawsuits.

Right

SC Senate Advances

Critics warn the revised map would create a Republican-leaning 7-0 congressional delegation, threatening Rep. Jim Clyburn’s seat.
The South Carolina Senate Judiciary Committee voted to advance the revised congressional map to the full Senate.
Members and the ACLU of South Carolina protested the redistricting plan at the State House.
ACLU and League of Women Voters sued House Rules Committee, claiming an FOIA breach.

Blindspot

Left coverage gave more weight to the legal background that the proposed map had been ruled a Voting Rights Act violation and that the Supreme Court’s Callais decision cleared that obstacle.
Right coverage did not include that legal context about the Voting Rights Act ruling and the Callais decision.

History

Historical Context

On June 25, 2013, the Supreme Court’s 5-4 ruling in Shelby County v. Holder struck down the Voting Rights Act’s Section 4(b) coverage formula, ending preclearance for seven Southern states and affecting 2 million minority voters. Now Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry and South Carolina’s Senate Judiciary Committee are advancing maps that could erase majority-Black districts, sparking lawsuits by the ACLU, the League of Women Voters and Rep. Jim Clyburn.

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Louisiana Legislators Advance Redistricting

Testimony urging lawmakers not to act was ignored as Louisiana legislators advanced a bill to undo a majority-Black district.
The Louisiana House and Governmental Affairs Committee moved the remapping bill to the floor with a 10-7 party-line vote.
The map would erase one of two majority-Black districts, giving Republicans five of six seats.
Governor Jeff Landry suspended the congressional primary, a move now facing multiple lawsuits.

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