Supreme Court to Decide Fate of Black Voters’ Rights in Louisiana

BATON ROUGE, La. – The fight for Black political representation in Louisiana is once again in the hands of the U.S. Supreme Court, as justices prepare to hear a case that could decide the future of fair voting rights in the state and beyond. At stake is whether Louisiana’s newly drawn congressional map—one that finally allowed Black voters to elect two representatives for the first time in nearly 30 years—will stand or be dismantled under the guise of protecting "non-Black voters."

For decades, Black Louisianians have battled voter suppression and racial gerrymandering that kept their political power limited. Despite making up one-third of the state’s population, Black residents have historically been packed into a single congressional district, ensuring limited influence in Washington. That changed after a federal court ruled that Louisiana’s previous map violated the Voting Rights Act by diluting Black votes. The state legislature was ordered to create a second majority-Black district.

That victory, however, was short-lived. A group of non-Black voters challenged the new map, claiming race played too large a role in the redistricting process. Now, the Supreme Court is stepping in, and civil rights leaders fear this case could further weaken the protections of the Voting Rights Act, a law that has been under relentless attack since the Court gutted key provisions in 2013.

A Hard-Fought Victory Under Threat

The controversy stems from Louisiana’s response to the 2020 Census, which required the state to redraw its congressional districts. Initially, despite Black residents making up nearly 33% of the population, legislators approved a map with only one Black-majority district out of six—an outcome that civil rights advocates immediately challenged.

A federal judge and the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed that the map likely violated the Voting Rights Act. In response, Louisiana’s Republican-controlled legislature produced a revised version with two Black-majority districts—one that stretches diagonally across the state to reflect where Black communities actually live.

But almost immediately, a group of white voters sued, arguing that the revised map unfairly prioritizes race over other districting factors. A panel of federal judges ruled in their favor, paving the way for the Supreme Court to hear the case. Meanwhile, the contested map was allowed to stand for the 2024 elections, leading to the historic election of Democrat Cleo Fields in the newly drawn district.

Political Power and the Battle for Representation

For Black Louisianians, this case is more than just a debate over lines on a map—it’s about the right to be heard. The current congressional map provides an opportunity for Black communities to have fair representation in Washington, something that has been denied for generations through racial gerrymandering.

Opponents, however, claim that the new districting plan constitutes a “racial quota” that unfairly favors Black voters at the expense of white voters. The lawsuit suggests that race should not be a predominant factor in redistricting, echoing long-standing conservative arguments against race-conscious policies.

One of the challengers’ key arguments references Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who has previously questioned whether Congress should continue approving “race-based redistricting” indefinitely. This echoes a broader push by conservatives to roll back civil rights-era protections, arguing that racial discrimination is no longer a significant issue in elections—a claim that voting rights advocates fiercely reject.

A History of Suppression Repeats Itself

Louisiana’s Black voters have seen this playbook before. The Supreme Court’s 2013 decision in Shelby County v. Holder gutted federal oversight of state voting laws, allowing states with a history of discrimination to enact restrictive voting measures with little resistance. Since then, Black voters in Mississippi, Georgia, Texas, and other Southern states have had to fight legal battles to keep their voices from being drowned out.

Marina Jenkins, executive director of the National Redistricting Foundation, warned that this case could be another blow to Black political power.

“The idea that we must be completely blind to race when we know our country’s history of voter suppression is dangerous,” Jenkins said. “This case isn’t just about Louisiana. If the court rules against the new map, it could set a precedent that weakens voting protections for Black communities across the country.”

Legal experts caution that even if the Supreme Court doesn’t overturn the Louisiana map this year, the conservative-leaning court has been steadily chipping away at voting rights protections.

“The question isn’t if the Voting Rights Act will be further weakened—it’s when,” said Luis Fuentes-Rohwer, a civil rights law professor at Indiana University’s Maurer School of Law.

What’s Next for Black Voters?

A decision is expected by June, just months before the 2026 midterm elections begin to take shape. If the Supreme Court rules against the new map, Louisiana could be forced back to the drawing board, potentially leading to a return to the same kind of voter suppression tactics that have long disenfranchised Black communities.

For now, Black Louisianians are watching closely, knowing that this case is not just about one district—it’s about securing the right to fair representation for future generations.