Louisiana is a step closer to a new congressional map after the state Senate approved a plan Thursday that would eliminate one of the state’s two majority-Black districts, both held by Democrats.
The new map comes after the Supreme Court invalidated Louisiana’s current House map last month in a ruling that found the state had illegally used race to draw a second majority-Black seat last cycle — the 6th District, represented by Democratic Rep. Cleo Fields. That ruling has set off a wave of redistricting efforts targeting majority-Black seats across the South as Republicans seek every advantage in the fight for House control in this year’s midterm elections.
It also prompted Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, a Republican, to delay the state’s House primaries, which were initially set for Saturday, to give state legislators time to redraw the map.
