The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to take up a major case that could outlaw the use of race when drawing congressional maps. The decision has the potential to “fundamentally reshape the nation’s legislative maps,” Fox News reported Friday.
The case stems from Louisiana, where Republicans are pushing back on a second majority-black district they were forced to create under the Voting Rights Act.
Justices will now consider arguments questioning whether the 1965 law still allows race-based redistricting. The outcome could impact maps in multiple states and shake up the makeup of Congress.
As of the 2022 midterms, the House included 11 majority-black districts and 31 majority-Hispanic districts. Democrats have used these lines to lock in power through racial gerrymandering, critics say.
The new case builds on Allen v. Milligan, a 2023 decision where the Court ruled 5-4 against Alabama Republicans and forced the state to create a second majority-black district. That ruling gave Democrats a new seat in 2024, per Trending Politics.
The Milligan decision triggered a similar redraw in Louisiana, with Democrats again gaining ground. But that win may be short-lived if the Court reverses course.
In the Louisiana v. Callais case, justices will weigh whether the VRA