Louisiana Approves Controversial New Congressional Map

On Friday, Louisiana lawmakers approved a new congressional map that eliminates the state's two majority Black districts, enabling Republicans to target Democratic-held seats in the upcoming 2026 midterm elections. The Louisiana Senate gave final approval to the bill amid dissent from Democrats, who condemned the map as discriminatory.

This decision comes shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the previous congressional map, ruling it unconstitutional due to racial gerrymandering.

Senator Roy Duplessis, a Democrat, expressed concerns about the implications of the new map, while Senator Jai Morris, a Republican, defended it, claiming it complies with traditional redistricting principles and is not racially motivated. The new map was described as maximizing partisan advantage while maintaining contiguity and compactness.

Representative Beau Beaullieu, the Republican sponsor of the amendment, argued that the legislature was compelled to redraw the map following the Supreme Court's ruling. The debate highlighted significant tensions regarding representation and voting rights in Louisiana.