Louisiana will postpone the May 16 House primaries after the United States Supreme Court struck down the state’s second Black congressional district, according to The Associated Press. Gov. Jeff Landry and Attorney General Liz Murrill released a joint statement Thursday morning following the Supreme Court decision to strike down Louisiana’s second majority Black congressional district. It’s a decision that could open the door for Republican-led states to eliminate Black and Latino electoral districts that tend to favor Democrats and affect the balance of power in Congress.Landry and Murrill said, “Yesterday’s historic Supreme Court victory for Louisiana has an immediate consequence for the State. The Supreme Court previously stayed an injunction against the State’s enforcement of the current Congressional map. By the Court’s order, however, that stay automatically terminated with yesterday’s decision. Accordingly, the State is currently enjoined from carrying out congressional elections under the current map. We are working together with the Legislature and the Secretary of State’s office to develop a path forward.”The court’s conservative majority found that the district, represented by Democrat Cleo Fields, relied too heavily on race. Chief Justice John Roberts had described the district as a “snake” that stretches more than 200 miles to link parts of the Shreveport, Alexandria, Lafayette and Baton Rouge areas.The ruling comes as Louisiana residents prepare to vote in the upcoming party primary election May 16. It remains unclear how the decision could impact the election.Louisiana Secretary of State Nancy Landry issued the following statement regarding the ruling:”My lawyers are currently analyzing the opinion. We are limited in what we can say at this time, as this continues to be active litigation, with the case remanded for proceedings back to the Western District.”The Associated Press contributed to this report
Louisiana will postpone the May 16 House primaries after the United States Supreme Court struck down the state’s second Black congressional district, according to The Associated Press.
Gov. Jeff Landry and Attorney General Liz Murrill released a joint statement Thursday morning following the Supreme Court decision to strike down Louisiana’s second majority Black congressional district.
It’s a decision that could open the door for Republican-led states to eliminate Black and Latino electoral districts that tend to favor Democrats and affect the balance of power in Congress.
Landry and Murrill said, “Yesterday’s historic Supreme Court victory for Louisiana has an immediate consequence for the State. The Supreme Court previously stayed an injunction against the State’s enforcement of the current Congressional map. By the Court’s order, however, that stay automatically terminated with yesterday’s decision. Accordingly, the State is currently enjoined from carrying out congressional elections under the current map. We are working together with the Legislature and the Secretary of State’s office to develop a path forward.”
The court’s conservative majority found that the district, represented by Democrat Cleo Fields, relied too heavily on race. Chief Justice John Roberts had described the district as a “snake” that stretches more than 200 miles to link parts of the Shreveport, Alexandria, Lafayette and Baton Rouge areas.
The ruling comes as Louisiana residents prepare to vote in the upcoming party primary election May 16. It remains unclear how the decision could impact the election.
Louisiana Secretary of State Nancy Landry issued the following statement regarding the ruling:
“My lawyers are currently analyzing the opinion. We are limited in what we can say at this time, as this continues to be active litigation, with the case remanded for proceedings back to the Western District.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report
