The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed Louisiana‘s bid to prevent the state’s voting map from being redrawn over allegations that it unlawfully diluted the power of black voters.
The justices issued a brief unsigned order that was expected after the ruling on June 8 that relied on the landmark Voting Rights Act in a similar case regarding redistricting in Alabama.
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The court order stated that the case should be resolved in lower courts “in advance of the 2024 congressional elections in Louisiana.”
In the Alabama case, the justices upheld a lower court ruling that said the Republican-drawn map in that state discriminated against black voters by making it harder for them to vote for candidates of their liking.
The Supreme Court’s June 8 ruling could lead to a new map being drawn in Louisiana in which black voters would have a chance to elect their preferred representative in two of the state’s six congressional districts rather than one.
For Republicans, the decision could have drastic ramifications for the 2024 election.
Rep. Garret Graves’s (R-LA) seat was moved from “Safe-R” to “Toss-Up” by Cook Political Report. Graves is considered House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s (R-CA) right-hand man and was the lead negotiator on the debt ceiling deal.
In June 2022, the Supreme Court allowed Republicans to use their preferred map that a judge had struck down for violating the VRA. Using that map, the GOP won five of the six districts in the November midterm elections.
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The Louisiana case was on pause at the high court pending the outcome of the Alabama case.
The case in Louisiana is one of several cases that will likely be affected by the Alabama decision. Black voters have historically been more aligned with Democrats, meaning the ruling could be substantial for Democrats seeking to gain back the House of Representatives.
