Supreme Court Orders Louisiana to Hold Congressional Elections with Second Mostly Black District in 2024

Supreme Court Allows Louisiana to Use Congressional Map with Second Mostly Black District for 2024 Elections

In a groundbreaking decision, the Supreme Court has ordered Louisiana to proceed with congressional elections in 2024 using a House map that includes a second mostly Black district. This ruling comes despite a lower-court declaring the map as an illegal racial gerrymander.

The utilization of a map with a majority Black population in two out of the state’s six congressional districts could potentially enhance the Democrats’ chances of gaining control of the closely divided House of Representatives in the upcoming 2024 elections.

The emergency appeals filed by the state’s top Republican officials and Black voters prompted the high court’s intervention to prevent confusion as the elections draw near. Approximately one-third of Louisiana’s population is Black.

Although the Supreme Court’s order does not directly address the lower-court decision that criticized the map for relying too heavily on race, it serves to maintain the current map for the 2024 elections, avoiding the creation of a new map.

There was dissent from the three liberal justices, with Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson stating that the judges who invalidated the map should have been given the opportunity to develop a new map before the Supreme Court intervened.

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill expressed satisfaction with the order, emphasizing the need for a stable election season with clear and settled rules. Conversely, a lawyer for the Black voters welcomed the court’s action, ensuring certainty in the electoral process leading up to the fall elections.

While some critics argue that the current map perpetuates a racial gerrymander, others believe that it was crafted with political considerations in mind rather than race. The potential establishment of a new majority Black district could provide Democrats with an additional House seat and increase representation for Black constituents in Louisiana.

This decision marks a significant development in the ongoing legal battles surrounding Louisiana’s congressional map, ultimately shaping the landscape of the 2024 elections in the state.

—
Image Source: [AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib](https://wgnradio.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/05/664537c1e4f0a9.25110704.jpeg?w=900)