Washington, D.C. — Today, a federal three-judge panel struck down Louisiana’s congressional map, which contains two Black-opportunity districts as required by Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act (VRA). The case is now expected to be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court and an application for emergency stay will likely be filed to keep the current, VRA-compliant map in place. Should the courts continue to side with the plaintiffs, it could not only set Black Louisianians back in their fight for equal representation, but also dismantle key voting protections, particularly for communities of color, in America.

As NDRC previously warned, this case poses a significant threat to the future of Section 2 with pro-gerrymandering forces positioned on the sides of both the plaintiffs and the defendants. Just nine days after Louisiana enacted its new fair congressional map, a federal legal challenge was filed in one of the most conservative federal district courts in Louisiana.

“The court’s ruling today unnecessarily puts Louisianians’ right to vote in a very precarious position,” said Eric H. Holder, Jr., the 82nd Attorney General of the United States and Chairman of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee (NDRC). “This decision is a radical departure from multiple recent court decisions regarding Louisiana’s congressional map. It is so wildly out of step from settled law and recent Supreme Court precedent that the ideological nature of the decision could not be more clear. Since the Voting Rights Act was enacted, anti-democracy forces have sought to minimize its effectiveness. The fight for equal representation is both historic and ongoing. Today’s decision harkens back to a dark time in our nation’s history. Undaunted, we will continue the fight for fairness and equality. 

“Louisiana’s current, fair maps—which gives Black Louisianians their long denied but rightful voting power—should remain in place for 2024 and for every future election. As this case proceeds, other courts must ensure that our march to justice continues, that precedent is respected and that the fundamental rights of all American citizens are upheld,” Holder concluded.  

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