On Friday, the Supreme Court declined to issue a final verdict on Louisiana’s revised congressional map, which added a second majority‑Black district following a lower court’s finding that the state’s original 2022 map violated the Voting Rights Act by diluting Black representation. Instead, the high court will rehear the case during its next term that begins in October. Justice Thomas included a dissent with the rehearing order. The challenge stems from non‑Black voters who argue the updated map is an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. A three‑judge panel blocked the map, but the Court previously permitted its use in the 2024 election while considering its constitutionality. By postponing the decision until its next term, the Court maintains the current map under which Democrats gained a second seat, for now. Read the order setting the case for reargument.
The stakes are high: the justices must decide whether Louisiana’s legislature relied excessively on race when redrawing congressional boundaries, potentially infringing on the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. The decision could have national consequences by shaping how courts balance the Voting Rights Act’s protections with constitutional bans on race-based districting. The delay adds to mounting uncertainty ahead of the 2026 election cycle and leaves activists, lawmakers, and communities awaiting clarity on how legal standards will apply to future redistricting efforts. Read the latest at NPR.org, Washingtonpost.com, and CNN.com.
updated June 28, 2025
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