5th Circuit Court Rejects Louisiana’s Legislative Map

A judge from the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has handed Louisiana Republicans a setback by denying their request to implement a long-term legislative map that has been deemed a racially discriminatory gerrymander. The ruling came from all three judges on the panel, supporting a previous decision made by a lower court regarding the map approved by Louisiana’s Republican-led Congress in 2022.

Details emerged as the judges affirmed that the map violates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. They dismissed the state’s assertion that changes in Louisiana’s circumstances rendered racially conscious remedies unnecessary.

The court stated, “There is no legal basis for this proposition, and the state does not provide evidence that Louisiana’s conditions have changed.” One judge did issue a temporary stay before the ruling took effect. Notably, the Supreme Court had already evaluated this map earlier in the year.

This decision from the 5th Circuit, widely regarded as conservative, serves as a significant short-term win for the ACLU and other plaintiffs who have claimed that the state’s actions were suppressing their voting rights. However, the relief gained from this ruling may be fleeting.

In March, the Supreme Court heard arguments in Louisiana v. Kalay, discussing the legitimacy of the state’s redistricting and whether race should play a role in shaping new legislative districts. The justices deliberated on whether Louisiana’s redistricting was sufficiently narrow to meet constitutional requirements, as argued by the appellee.

This past June, the Supreme Court indicated it would engage in further discussions on the case in the fall, emphasizing the need for more information before reaching a final decision.

Earlier this month, the judge ordered the involved parties to submit additional briefs by mid-September. These briefs are expected to address whether Louisiana’s proposed map intentionally aimed to create a second majority Congressional district. This attention from the Supreme Court highlights the ongoing significance of the redistricting issue leading up to the 2026 midterm elections.

In recent years, Louisiana has adjusted its Congressional map twice following the 2020 census. The initial version aimed to create a majority-black district but faced legal challenges in 2022; federal courts sided with plaintiffs asserting that it diluted black voting power and mandated a revision by early 2024.

The newly introduced SB 8 includes a second majority-black district but has quickly drawn criticisms from non-black plaintiffs. They argue that the design of the district, which stretches 250 miles from Shreveport to Baton Rouge, was overly reliant on race and resulted in an oddly shaped district.

The ongoing disputes in Louisiana reflect broader tensions in the U.S. as redistricting battles intensify across the country ahead of the midterm elections. For instance, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has faced pushback regarding new rezoning plans after Democratic lawmakers left the state to hinder the process.

Similar dynamics are unfolding in California, where Governor Gavin Newsom introduced a new map intended to bolster Democrat representation. As both parties engage in fierce redistricting struggles, the 2026 midterms are shaping up to be an electoral referendum, especially after the new presidential election cycle.