Supreme Court Strikes Down Majority Black Congressional District

The U.S. Supreme Court struck down a majority Black congressional district in Louisiana today. The ruling essentially waters down the Voting Rights Act (VRA), the landmark civil rights law.

The ruling effectively narrows Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which prohibits gerrymandering along racial lines.

BREAKING: The Supreme Court struck down a majority Black congressional district in Louisiana, weakening a landmark voting rights law’s protections against discrimination in redistricting. https://t.co/bzYNbFduSA

— The Associated Press (@AP) April 29, 2026

From the Associated Press:

The Supreme Court struck down Louisiana’s second majority Black congressional district in 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.

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 (320 kilometers) to link parts of the Shreveport, Alexandria, Lafayette and Baton Rouge areas.

The decision weakens a landmark voting rights law’s protections against discrimination in redistricting. It’s unclear how much is left of the provision, known as Section 2, the main way to challenge racially discriminatory election practices.

The court split 6-3 along ideological lines. The conservative majority wrote in its opinion that the ruling kept the Voting Rights Act intact.

But the three liberal justices argued this ruling was step towards dismantling the landmark civil rights act. Justice Elena Kagan called the decision the “latest chapter in the majority’s now-completed demolition of the Voting Rights Act” in a dissent.

Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), currently running for governor of her state, is already calling for state lawmakers to redraw Tennessee’s map to eliminate its one Blue district.

Almost immediately after today’s decision came down, the Florida House approved a new congressional map that could add four more Republicans to the U.S. House.

When asked for his reaction to the decision, Trump acknowledged he wasn’t aware the ruling had come out: “I’ve been with contractors because we’re trying to get the ballroom built.”

Read more here.

NEWS: In a major 6–3 decision, the Supreme Court has struck down Louisiana’s congressional map that added a second majority-Black district, ruling it unconstitutional as a racial gerrymander. The opinion, written by Justice Samuel Alito, narrows how the Voting Rights Act is… pic.twitter.com/2bwSZTAVJq

— MeidasTouch (@MeidasTouch) April 29, 2026

Supreme Court Voting Rights Act Ruling Opens Door for Southern States to Redraw Maps, Dismantle Majority-Black Districts pic.twitter.com/yQztULszhm

— NewsWire (@NewsWire_US) April 29, 2026