Louisiana's political fights are escalating on nearly every front.

Congressional map: Senators voted 27-10 along party lines yesterday to advance a new state map that eliminates one of the state's two majority-Black U.S. House districts.

• Under the new map, Congressional District 6, currently held by Democrat Rep. Cleo Fields, would likely flip to Republican.
• Several groups host a day of action tomorrow at Duncan Plaza to condemn voter suppression and the proposed map.
• The map heads to a House committee next week for another vote.

Elections: Louisiana holds its first primaries tomorrow under the closed election system.

• The Republican primary in the U.S. Senate race is drawing national attention. Incumbent Bill Cassidy is fighting for his seat against Trump-endorsed Julia Letlow and state Treasurer John Fleming.
• The state also has multiple constitutional amendments and local races.

The intrigue: Gov. Jeff Landry suspended the U.S. House elections, saying Louisiana needs a new congressional map after the U.S. Supreme Court's Callais decision.

• But the candidates' names will still appear on ballots tomorrow. Secretary of State Nancy Landry says the votes won't count, but left-leaning voting rights groups are urging residents to still vote the full ballot while litigation continues.
• State lawmakers are advancing a bill that voids the already-cast House ballots and converts the House primaries from closed to open, according to the Louisiana Illuminator.

Recall petitions: More petition-signing spots are popping up around the state for a grassroots effort to recall the governor and attorney general.

• The one at Chicken's Kitchen this week received nearly 1,000 signatures and had people lined up outside the building.

The bottom line: Louisiana's political turmoil is likely to intensify before lawmakers adjourn June 1.

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The Louisiana Supreme Court stepped in yesterday and paused a high-stakes game of chicken between Attorney General Liz Murrill and Mayor Helena Moreno.

Why it matters: The tensions have been ratcheting up this week between the Republicans who lead the state and the Democrats who lead its biggest city.

The big picture: The state Supreme Court said it will review the law that merged Orleans civil and criminal clerk positions, The Times-Picayune reports.

• Until then, Chelsey Richard Napoleon will run the consolidated clerk office, the court said.
• The action came after the council voted 5-2 to name retired Judge Calvin Johnson as interim clerk of court, a position Murrill says belonged to Napoleon.
• Napoleon and Johnson were both overseeing election prep yesterday.

Zoom in: Murrill on Wednesday demanded city leaders withdraw their support for Johnson and end their plan to hold a special election, according to letters she sent to Moreno and other city officials.

• If they don't, the letters threaten to have them removed under the state's usurper law. The governor, a Republican, would then appoint their replacements.
• Moreno and five city council members say they will wait for the courts to decide the clerk case.

Zoom out: Napoleon is suing Moreno, Council President JP Morrell and Johnson.

• The council met yesterday in executive session to discuss the lawsuit and declined to comment after adjourning.
• Meanwhile, Calvin Duncan, whose criminal clerk position was eliminated by lawmakers, is suing the state to overturn the law.
• Gary Crockett, a U.S. Senate candidate, also filed a lawsuit alleging the law is unconstitutional.
• The justices took up both cases, citing "the urgent need to provide a definitive resolution to prevent further confusion," John Simerman wrote for The Times-Picayune.

The intrigue: It's unclear whether the Supreme Court's involvement resolves Murrill's threats to remove Moreno and the council members from office.

• Murrill and Moreno both put out statements supporting the court's involvement.
• They did not respond to our questions about the usurper law.

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TikTok food influencer Keith Lee hosts his inaugural festival in New Orleans this weekend, while Bayou Boogaloo celebrates its 20th anniversary with a smaller, reimagined format.

The big picture: Keith Lee's FamiLee Day takes over the UNO Lakefront festival ground tomorrow from noon to 10pm.

• The festival has a "food village" curated by Lee. Kirk Franklin and Mannie Fresh headline the musical lineup, plus there's an obstacle course.
• Tickets start at $69.50. Discounted $30 tickets for locals were sold out as of yesterday.

Meanwhile, Bayou Boogaloo ditched its signature floating free-for-all this year, with the organizer citing increased costs and reduced attendance.

• They moved off the water to ticketed events with local music, art and food at The Broadside and Pitot House.
• The music starts today at The Broadside and runs all weekend. Pitot House hosts a more VIP-style gathering.
• The daytime fest activities are free tomorrow and Sunday at The Broadside, but tickets are needed for other events.

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🏈 Lane Kiffin, LSU's new head coach, is the "most polarizing coach in college football," according to a profile where he explained his decision to leave Ole Miss. (Vanity Fair 🔒)

• He also apologized to Ole Miss folks who were offended by his diversity comments in the piece. (The Athletic)
• LSU plays Ole Miss in Oxford on Sept. 19. (Full schedule)

🏛️ A divided Supreme Court yesterday indefinitely extended a freeze on strict new restrictions for dispensing the widely used abortion pill mifepristone while Louisiana's legal fight over the drug plays out. (Axios)

🎺 Mystery solved! The Louis Armstrong statue in the CBD that's gone missing was removed for repairs. It will be back in a few weeks. (The Times-Picayune 🔒)