New congressional map sparks another campaign season
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Louisiana congressional hopefuls are gearing up for another midterm election after state lawmakers redrew the state's map and reset the clock.
Why it matters: The new map dismantles one of the state's two majority-Black districts and will likely flip a Democratic-held seat to Republicans.
The big picture: The Republican-led state Legislature raced for the past month to pass a new map after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the Callais case that the state's previous one relied too much on race.
- The decision came during the state's midterm elections, which were in progress with more than 42,000 absentee ballots cast.
- Gov. Jeff Landry suspended the U.S. House elections April 30, saying the state needed a new map before proceeding. Several lawsuits are contesting his decision.
- The House races remained on the ballots for early voting and party primaries, but the secretary of state's office says the votes won't count.
Zoom in: Candidates have to qualify again for the districts they hope to represent. The deadline is Aug. 7, Secretary of State Nancy Landry said in a statement.
- All eyes will be on the Baton Rouge-based district currently represented by Democrat Cleo Fields.
- Lawmakers redrew it with new borders to be majority white, which in Louisiana historically equates to a Republican district.
- The U.S. House primary is Nov. 3, the same day as the state's general election for other offices.
Yes, but: The party primaries won't be closed, as they were in the now-suspended election.
- It will be a jungle primary under a newly passed bill, writes Piper Hutchinson with the Louisiana Illuminator. The bill also voids the previous ballots and hides the total number from public disclosure.
- Meanwhile, voters head to the polls this month for runoffs in party primaries for U.S. Senate and other races.
Between the lines: Louisiana was part of a national effort, encouraged by President Trump, to redraw congressional maps to favor Republicans for the midterm elections.
- Democrats have been responding in Louisiana by packing state Capitol meetings, signing a gubernatorial recall petition and hosting town halls.
How it works: Louisiana has six congressional districts for the U.S. House. See the current map and the new one.
- Until last week, four were majority white and represented by white Republicans: Steve Scalise, Mike Johnson, Clay Higgins and Julia Letlow.
- Two were majority Black and represented by Black Democrats: Troy Carter and Fields.
- Fields' district was added in 2024 in response to a lawsuit from Black voters arguing they were underrepresented.
What's next: The new map is already being challenged legally, according to the AP, with more lawsuits expected.