Monday, June 26, 2023

La. redistricting case unfrozen

WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court lifted its hold on a Louisiana political remap case, on June 26, increasing the likelihood that the Republican-dominated state will have to redraw boundary lines to create a second mostly Black congressional district. 

For more than a year, there has been a legal battle over the GOP-drawn political boundaries, with a federal judge, Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards and opponents saying that the map is unfair and discriminates against Black voters. 

The map, which was used in Louisiana’s November congressional election, has white majorities in five of six districts, all currently held by Republicans. This is despite Blacks are about 33% of the state’s population. 

The Louisiana case had been on hold pending the decision in a redistricting case in Alabama. Monday’s order follows the court’s rejection earlier in June of a congressional redistricting map in AlabamaIn both states, Black voters are a majority in just one congressional district. (The AP 06/26/23) Supreme Court unfreezes Louisiana redistricting case that could boost Black voting power before 2024 | AP News

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