Louisiana lawmakers are set to begin work on a new congressional map Friday, per the Louisiana Illuminator.

Why it matters: The redrawn map will likely cut the number of majority-Black U.S. House districts in the state, putting either Troy Carter or Cleo Fields at risk of losing their seats.

The big picture: The state Senate committee that oversees redistricting meets Friday to hear public comment, writes Piper Hutchinson with the Illuminator.

• The committee will then reconvene early next week to vote on a map. If one is approved, it will go to the Senate.
• Sen. Caleb Kleinpeter, a Republican who chairs the committee, told Hutchinson they will likely favor a map that keeps the majority-Black district based in Baton Rouge, while eliminating the one in New Orleans.
• Fields, who was elected last year, represents the Baton Rouge district, while Carter represents the New Orleans one.

What he's saying: Carter, in a statement yesterday, reiterated that the state deserves two seats where Black voters get a say in who represents them.

How it works: Louisiana is divided into six voting districts for the U.S. House. See the map.

• Four are majority-white and are represented by white Republicans: Steve Scalise, Mike Johnson, Clay Higgins and Julia Letlow.
• Two are majority-Black and have Black Democratic leaders: Carter and Fields.
• Fields' district was added in response to a lawsuit from Black voters — who make up roughly 30% of the state's population — arguing they were underrepresented.

State of play: Gov. Jeff Landry says the new map needs to be in place for the now-delayed congressional election.

• Voting rights advocates disagree, saying the election was already happening when the SCOTUS ruling was handed down. They are suing to allow the election to continue.
• Early voting is underway in other races for the May 16 primaries.
• The House primaries will be July 15, Hutchinson reports, unless lawmakers select another date.
• Lawmakers told her it's still up for debate whether the delayed election will be open or semi-closed.

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Louisiana's redistricting will likely give Republicans another U.S. House seat.

Why it matters: It's part of a national effort, encouraged by President Trump, to redraw maps to benefit Republicans.

How it works: The U.S. House has 435 seats, which are divided among the states based on population.

• Case in point: Louisiana has six House seats.
• After each 10-year census, states are responsible for drawing their own congressional districts, usually through the state legislature, the U.S. Census Bureau says.
• The Constitution says the districts must be as equal in population as possible. However, it doesn't specify how that equality should be achieved, Caltech says.

Between the lines: Because lawmakers often draw their own districts, the process is inherently political.

• That dynamic can lead to gerrymandering, which is intentionally drawing districts to favor a particular political party, candidate or group, Caltech says.

The big picture: The new Supreme Court ruling could lead to Republicans gaining 19 more U.S. House seats nationally than under the 2024 maps, according to estimates from Black Voters Matter.

• Republican legislatures in 10 Southern states, including Louisiana, could redraw maps to wipe out 191 Democratic state seats held by Black lawmakers in majority-minority districts, the group says.

The other side: Democratic lawmakers across the country are also considering redrawing maps in their own favor, write Axios' Andrew Solender and Justin Kaufmann.

The bottom line: What could lie ahead for America is a never-ending, zero-sum arms race to squeeze every last drop of partisan advantage out of every congressional map, Solender writes.

Go deeper

🏗️ American Sugar Refining, which owns the Domino Sugar refinery in Chalmette, broke ground yesterday on a $785 million project to modernize the facility. The first $200 million phase should be finished in 2028. (Press release)

🚌 The Orleans Parish School Board and the city ended their multi-year legal battle yesterday over tax fees. Both sides compromised on the annual payments and administrative collection fee. (The Times-Picayune 🔒)

• Flashback: Then-Mayor LaToya Cantrell backed out of the original settlement last year, leading to financial leaders ringing the first alarms to City Council about the city's dire financial situation.

🤩 The Met Gala had several Louisiana connections:

• Jon Batiste and his wife Suleika Jaouad (who is going through chemo) attended.
• Also spotted: LSU standouts Angel Reese, Joe Burrow, Justin Jefferson and Mondo Duplantis.
• Baton Rouge designer Christopher John Rogers dressed Deborah Roberts.
• Venus Williams, co-chair of the event, grabbed a post-gala snack at Raising Cane's.

👀 A petition to boot Gov. Jeff Landry out of office was filed yesterday by two Baton Rouge residents. They need at least 500,000 certified signatures to force a recall election. (WWL)

👋 Carlie here. In honor of Cinco de Mayo, I tried the latest food item to go viral: soft-serve margaritas.

Why it matters: As temperatures climb, frozen cocktails like this are an easy sell.

The big picture: I got them with a friend at Felipe's French Quarter location for $12 each.

• We tried pineapple and strawberry topped with Tajín, lime and a maraschino cherry. They are prettier if you drink them in the restaurant, but we opted for go-cups.
• The bartender estimated each one had about two shots of tequila, but they are made in batches so it's not an exact science.

My vote: Fun, boozy treat. Would get another.

Another option: Tacos del Cartel has them at its Metairie location.

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