Today, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6–3 to block Louisiana’s congressional map that created a second majority-Black district in the state. The Louisiana v. Callais decision bars the state from using the map in future elections, which the dissenting justices warned weakens key provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. In fact, both the majority and dissenting statements cited the Voting Rights Act as the crux of their opinion, with Justice Kagan lamenting the ruling renders the act “all but a dead letter.”
Qorvis Partner Rich Masters, who worked in Louisiana politics and broadcasting, explains the impact of the ruling and what it means for Louisiana’s upcoming election and the national debates around gerrymandering.
