Supreme Court Strikes Down Race-Focused Redistricting Plan in Louisiana

Supreme Court Voids Louisiana’s Redistricting Map

The U.S. Supreme Court decided on Wednesday to invalidate Louisiana’s race-based redistricting map, determining that the state’s black-majority 2nd District violates constitutional principles.

The conservative majority reached a 6-3 decision, labeling the map “an unconstitutional gerrymander.” However, they refrained from overturning Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.

Justice Alito, writing for the majority, noted, “Section II of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 is designed to uphold the Constitution, rather than undermine it. Sadly, lower courts have sometimes misapplied the Court’s precedent regarding Section II, compelling states to discriminate based on race, which the Constitution strictly forbids.”

He explained that the conflict between Article II and the Constitution became apparent when Louisiana revised its congressional districts following the 2020 Census. A federal judge ruled in 2022 that the state Legislature’s maps likely breached Article II because they failed to create additional black-majority districts. Yet, when Louisiana proposed a new map that included those districts, it was criticized as racial gerrymandering. Ultimately, a three-judge panel concluded that the new map violated the equal protection clause, prompting the state to appeal.

The Supreme Court heard final arguments in June but opted for an additional hearing to evaluate whether race or political motives influenced the state’s approach and whether adherence to the Voting Rights Act warranted the intentional use of race in redistricting decisions.

Alito remarked, “For over 30 years, we have assumed that the answer to this question is affirmative, and we have gone even further to consider that it is sufficient for a nation to conform to the Voting Rights Act. This points to a strong belief that the Act necessitates race-based actions. However, allowing race to factor into government decisions would diverge from the constitutional principles that govern nearly every other context. Therefore, it’s essential to clarify whether compliance with the Voting Rights Act can legitimately justify race-based districting.”

He concluded that properly interpreted, Article II can serve as a valid basis for race-based decisions, but shouldn’t impose an unconstitutional burden on Louisiana regarding the 2022 map. Thus, the state’s actions in trying to comply with the Middle District’s ruling resulted in an unconstitutional gerrymander.

Justice Elena Kagan dissented alongside three other justices, expressing concerns about the significant ramifications of the ruling. “Today’s decision essentially undermines Section 2 entirely,” she stated.

This development could significantly influence upcoming midterm elections and the presidential race in 2028, as analyses indicate that a number of Democratic House districts could potentially be redrawn to favor Republicans.