Closing Summary
Here’s a roundup of reactions on Thursday to the supreme court’s decision requiring Louisiana to redraw its congressional maps – a ruling that deals a significant blow to voting rights nationwide:
Louisiana’s secretary of state has announced the suspension of the House primaries ahead of the May 16 primaries. In a statement on Thursday following the supreme court’s ruling that the state must redraw its congressional maps, Nancy Landry said: “While the US House races will remain on voters’ ballots, any votes cast in those races will not be counted.”
Donald Trump lashed out at Louisiana Republican senator Bill Cassidy after the congressman told CNN earlier that he doesn’t think it’s a “very good idea” for the state to postpone its May primaries after the supreme court decision. “Hopefully all of the Great Republican People of Louisiana, which I won, BIG, three times, will be voting Bill Cassidy OUT OF OFFICE in the upcoming Republican Primary!” the president wrote.
Hakeem Jeffries, the House minority leader, is reportedly targeting at least four key states for redistricting maneuvers ahead of the 2028 elections to counter the anticipated Republican gerrymanders. “All options are on the table as we get through the 2026 election and look to the future,” Jeffries told Politico on Thursday. “As many governors have already indicated, we will be prepared to respond in states like New York, Illinois and Maryland, as well as in Colorado, in advance of the 2028 election.”
The voting rights advocates who fought for majority-minority districts across the US south are organizing their next steps after the supreme court effectively gutted the Voting Rights Act on Wednesday and eviscerated much of the work of the civil rights era. “I think that it is deeply troubling that in 2026 that many of us have less rights than our grandparents had – and that becomes truer and truer every year,” said Ashley K Shelton, CEO and president of Power Coalition for Equality and Justice, a Louisiana-based civic engagement organization and a plaintiff in the Callais case.
Reverend Al Sharpton appeared this morning on MS Now’s Morning Joe program to discuss yesterday’s court ruling, describing the decision as a “devastating blow.” “It takes the last part of dealing with racial inequality and gerrymandering off the table,” he said.
The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law decried the decision by the supreme court to severely weaken Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. Damon T Hewitt, president and executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee, issued this statement: “Black Americans have never been fully represented in the electoral process. This ruling makes it less likely that we ever will. The impact of this ruling cannot be understated. The consequences will be seen both immediately and far into the future.”
House speaker Mike Johnson on Thursday urged states to redraw their maps following the Supreme Court’s monumental decision striking down the Voting Rights Act. Louisiana – where Republicans could reconfigure two district currently represented by Black Democrats – has already indicated it wants to quickly redraw ahead of the midterms.
Colorado secretary of state Jena Griswold has pushed for redistricting in her state since last year, when Republicans began middecade redistricting efforts across the country.
“We cannot stand by while MAGA and Trump tries to degrade democracy and grab control in an undemocratic way, of Congress,” she told the Guardian.
Colorado has had independent redistricting since 2018. The state draws its maps through an independent commission, which keeps the Congressional delegation at an even 4-4 split. Any changes must go through voters. Though Griswold still supports independent redistricting, she said that Coloradans could cast votes to split the map 7-1 in favor of Democrats.
“To protect our democracy and the Colorado way of life, we have to fight back. First and foremost, that means defending our democracy in ‘26. When it comes to redistricting, this is a break glass in case of an emergency scenario,” she said.
“Blue states should absolutely be fighting back. I support Colorado moving forward and voters weighing in this year to help secure our democracy. I support a narrow, limited use only in the very specific circumstances of mid-year partisan gerrymandering, like we’re seeing in states like Texas and North Carolina, where Republicans are trying to grab onto power. Every state should take the actions that we can to fight back,” she added.
