The Supreme Court just reset the rules of the redistricting game. In a 6–3 decision on April 29, 2026, the Court struck down Louisiana’s 2024 congressional map that created two majority‑Black districts, calling the state’s race‑conscious line‑drawing an “unconstitutional racial gerrymander.” Justice Samuel Alito’s opinion says the Voting Rights Act (VRA) did not require the second majority‑Black district, so “no compelling interest justified the State’s use of race” to create it. Justice Elena Kagan dissented, joined by Justices Sotomayor and Jackson. The case is Louisiana v. Callais. (law.cornell.edu)

Context and stakes

• Louisiana is roughly one‑third Black (Black alone: 32.6% in Census QuickFacts). Building a second district where Black voters can elect their preferred candidates was the central dispute after the 2020 census. (census.gov)...

In a landmark decision on April 29, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Louisiana's congressional map, ruling that the creation of a second majority-Black district constituted an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. Justice Samuel Alito, writing for the 6-3 majority, emphasized that the state's reliance on race in redrawing district lines violated constitutional principles. (apnews.com)

This ruling is a resounding affirmation of the principle that race should not be the predominant factor in legislative redistricting. The Court's decision underscores the necessity of adhering to the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, which mandates that all citizens be treated equally under the law, without preferential treatment based on race.

Historically, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, particularly Section 2, has been instrumental in combating racial discrimination in voting practices. However, ...

In a devastating blow to democracy and racial justice, the U.S. Supreme Court's conservative majority has once again wielded its power to disenfranchise Black voters and dismantle hard-won civil rights protections. On April 29, 2026, the Court struck down Louisiana's congressional map, which included two majority-Black districts, declaring it an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. This 6-3 decision, authored by Justice Samuel Alito, effectively eviscerates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act (VRA), a cornerstone of voting rights legislation that has safeguarded minority representation for over half a century. (aclu.org)

The Court's ruling is a blatant assault on the political power of Black and Latino communities, particularly in the South, where the legacy of voter suppression runs deep. By narrowing the scope of the VRA, the decision paves th...