Supreme Court strikes down Louisiana redistricting map, raising concerns across the US

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Since 1965, Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act has been in place, prohibiting voting practices that discriminate on the basis of race or minority status.

In the state of Louisiana, a proposed congressional map would have allowed two of the districts to be majority-black, instead of just one of the six.

The state had drawn the new map after the 2020 census, which showed that more than a third of the state's voting-age population is Black.

The new map was ordered by a lower court, but on Wednesday morning, the Supreme Court declared it unconstitutional in a 6-3 ruling.

"They basically made it illegal drawing congressional districts to take a racial minority and make it a majority in that district, that has been done for a long time in the Voting Rights Act, but they have now struck that down," said Fresno State Professor Thomas Holyoke.

President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social, saying the court decision is a big win for equal protection under the law, as it returns the Voting Rights Act to its original intent.

In a statement, Congressman Jim Costa strongly disagrees with the high court's latest action, saying the following:

"Today's Supreme Court decision is a setback for voting rights and fair representation. The Voting Rights Act was passed to stop discrimination at the ballot box, not to be weakened by the courts. Congress must pass the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to restore and modernize these protections to ensure every American has an equal voice in our democracy."

Nate Monroe with UC Merced says that states redistricting of congressional maps has also proven to be a major political move ... with several states making that play in the last year.

"We have seen tons of maps redrawn in the last year explicitly set as a state of dominos with republicans trying to counteract democrats and democrats trying to counter republicans," said UC Merced Political Professor Nate Monroe.

A move seen in California when Proposition 50 passed last year, allowing the use of new congressional districts.

With the elections about half a year away, many are curious if other states will attempt to draw new districts, or have concerns that the Justices will step in.

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