Why Louisiana paused its US House primary election amid redistricting push

"Louisiana will hold several primary elections on Thursday, including for the United States Senate, the state's Supreme Court, and a slate of local offices. Notably absent will be the primary, in which members of the Democratic and Republican parties will select their candidates for the state's six US House districts ahead of the general elections in November. The primary vote has been paused by the state's governor following a major Supreme Court ruling that opens the door to redrawing the state's congressional district map, eliminating one of two majority-Black districts."

"The 6-3 Supreme Court ruling in late April undid a key provision of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 meant to protect Black voting power from being diluted. That can be achieved by effectively carving up areas with large Black populations to diminish their electoral influence. Black voters in the US have historically heavily skewed Democratic. The ruling said that congressional districts could only be challenged if there was evidence of racist motivation behind how they were drawn."

"Rights groups have challenged the pause, saying it violates both the US and the state's constitutions. The situation comes amid a wider national redistricting battle, which has been shifting both parties' electoral calculus ahead of consequential midterms that will determine control of the US House and Senate and, in turn, set the tone for the final two years of US President Donald Trump's second term."

"Specifically related to Louisiana, the court ruled that a congressional map drawn in January of 2024, which created a second Black-majority district in the state, was unconstitutional. That map was created following a legal"

Louisiana will hold multiple primary elections for the US Senate, the state Supreme Court, and local offices, while a congressional candidate primary for six House districts is paused. The pause follows a Supreme Court ruling that allows redrawing Louisiana’s congressional district map and removes one of two majority-Black districts. Rights groups challenge the pause as violating the US and Louisiana constitutions. The Supreme Court decision, issued in late April, overturned a key Voting Rights Act provision intended to protect Black voting power from dilution. The ruling requires proof of racist motivation in how districts were drawn, which critics say is difficult to establish. In Louisiana, the court found a January 2024 map creating a second Black-majority district unconstitutional.

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