The battle over Louisiana’s congressional map continues as the state legislature has until January 15th to redraw the boundaries, following a lower court ruling that the current map dilutes the power of the state’s Black voters. This comes after a year and a half of legal battles and political maneuvering, with Democrats and Republicans each vying for control over the redistricting process.
The current map, which was used in the November congressional election, has white majorities in five of six districts, despite Black people accounting for one-third of the state’s population. Republicans argue that the map is fair, while Democrats claim it discriminates against Black voters and are pushing for a second majority-minority district.
Governor John Bel Edwards has not yet indicated whether he will call a special session to address the redistricting issue before his term ends, while Governor-elect Jeff Landry will not be inaugurated until January 8th. This has raised questions about whether there will be enough time to convene a special session and meet the court’s deadline.
In the midst of this tug-of-war, U.S. Rep. Troy Carter has urged lawmakers to “do the right thing” and draw a new map with a second majority-Black district. While lawmakers scramble to meet the deadline, the appeals court has left open the possibility of granting “limited additional time” if requested.
The battle over Louisiana’s congressional map is a crucial one, with significant implications for the state’s political landscape and the representation of its citizens. As the January 15th deadline looms, all eyes are on the state legislature to see how this contentious issue will unfold.