Cenla leaders react as the Supreme Court strikes down Louisiana’s majority-Black congressional district

BATON ROUGE, La. (KALB) — On April 29, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Louisiana’s congressional map passed in 2024 unconstitutional, labeling it as racially gerrymandered.

Louisiana passed the map in 2024 following a court mandate requiring a second Black-majority district, citing concerns that minority voters were not being given fair representation.

The newly created district cuts from Shreveport through Central Louisiana down to Baton Rouge and is represented by Democratic Congressman Cleo Fields.

After years of legal battles, the Supreme Court declared the map unconstitutional, saying the second minority-majority district should not exist because it solely considers race. The decision means portions of the Voting Rights Act only apply to ‘intentional’ racial gerrymandering.

“I just think the Supreme Court basically gutted Section II of the Voting Rights Act,” Fields said. “I mean, if there is a state that can show the history of racial discrimination, that’s Louisiana. I just think it’s unfortunate. But, we live to fight another day.”

Gov. Jeff Landry disagreed, saying the decision gives lawmakers more power to represent their constituents.

“I think this whole race-baiting issue on the redistricting has been put to bed finally, once and for all,” the governor said. “What it says is that the legislature and the people control the pen.”

State Representative and Speaker Pro Temp Mike Johnson said the decision came at a bad time with elections on the near horizon, voicing disappointment towards the delayed ruling.

“It poses a challenge. They could return to the previous map, but that would take an additional ruling from the court. That’ll have to be an expedited process,” Johnson said. “If not, and if we’re able to do it, either in this session, which we’ve still got a month, then there’s the question of whether or not the courts rule that that’s inadequate time. Because early voting starts Saturday.”

Johnson believes the Supreme Court made the correct decision, saying it offers a chance for the Cenla region to reunify. The newly-declared unconstitutional map splits Rapides Parish and Avoyelles into two.

“So this, to me, is the most important issue at hand. There’s no question in my mind what we need to do,” Johnson proclaimed.

Other Central Louisiana lawmakers agree with Johnson. Avoyelles State Representative Daryl Deshotel believes multiple maps are expected to be introduced, but said he hopes to see a map that unifies the Central Louisiana region.

In preparation for the court’s verdict, Johnson filed a map at the beginning of the 2026 legislative session, removing the district cutting through three of Louisiana’s major cities.

“This was the map that we spent two years working on with statistics to come up with. It’s the one that we had in existence before,” Johnson said. “There’s no way for somebody in Baton Rouge to be able to adequately represent someone in Shreveport or Central Louisiana and know the values and the things that are common in our community that may be different from those other communities.”

When asked if Louisiana could experience another special session on redistricting, the Pro Temp responded:

“It’s certainly possible, certainly possible. But the reality of it is, we’re still here for a month. That’s plenty of time, if we make it the priority, that I want it to be made. I’m going to visit with the speaker and discuss just that very thing.”

State Rep. Deshotel told KALB he would oppose the declaration of a special session, saying, “I would just hate to see the taxpayers on the hook again for a special session. So, it’s my preference to do it in this [legislative] session...Let’s go ahead and roll up our sleeves. We may have to work Saturdays or Sundays, and work a little longer. But I think, we deserve, the people deserve that.”

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