Democrats admit VRA ruling is a "devastating blow"
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Rep. Terri Sewell speaks at a press conference at the U.S. Capitol on Dec. 3, 2025. Photo: Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
Democrats have been able to point to some silver lining or glimmer of hope with past defeats on congressional redistricting this cycle. There's no sugarcoating the Supreme Court's weakening of the Voting Rights Act.
Why it matters: The ruling is set to immediately cost Democrats at least a few safe House seats in the deep South, which could severely hamper their efforts to retake the lower chamber in November.
- The losses could continue to be deeply felt beyond 2026, with more Republican-controlled Southern states potentially able to break up their majority-minority (read: solidly Democratic) districts.
- "It's devastating. It's a devastating blow," said Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.), the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus.
- Said former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.): "It's not good."
Driving the news: In a 6-3 decision issued Wednesday, the Supreme Court ruled that Louisiana's current House lines — which created two Black-majority districts — were an "unconstitutional racial gerrymander."
- The Court weakened Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which prohibits racially-discriminatory gerrymandering, by strengthening states' ability to draw congressional maps on the basis of partisanship.
- The ruling is likely to kickstart efforts in Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee and several other states to draw more aggressively pro-Republican maps.
What they're saying: Like Clarke, Reps. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio) and Terri Sewell (D-Ala.) both called the ruling "a devastating blow."
- Both lawmakers also described the ruling as a "gift" to Donald Trump and Republicans in what they described as "voter suppression" efforts.
- "Today's decision is a devastating blow," Derrick Johnson, president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, said in a statement.
Zoom in: Sewell, who represents a deep Southern majority-minority district, said she "absolutely" expects the Republican-controlled legislature to try to draw her out of her seat this year.
- "This is an open invitation to every Republican state to try to redraw their maps before this election towards partisan ends," she said.
- Beatty told Axios the Black Caucus has "many members who will be affected" by the ruling.
Yes, but: Some lawmakers expressed hope that the party can still win in November despite this new, substantial hurdle.
- Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.) told Axios the ruling is "not good" and "demoralizing," but added, "I think we're still in a good position ... I think we're still ahead."
- Said Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee chair Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.) in a statement: "Democrats remain poised to retake the House Majority in November."
What's next: Democrats are vowing to fight, but they have few tools at their disposal to immediately remedy the situation.
- Beatty told Axios that lawmakers plan to mount a new push for the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, though it is highly unlikely to go anywhere with Republicans in control of both chambers of Congress.
