The Louisiana legislature approved a new congressional map on May 29, 2026, which is expected to favor Republicans and eliminate a Black-majority district. The state Senate had previously passed the measure with a 27-10 vote, and after amendments from the House, it returned for final approval. The new map is projected to change Louisiana’s congressional delegation from a 4-2 Republican majority to a 5-1 majority. Governor Jeff Landry is anticipated to sign the bill into law.
This redistricting follows a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that invalidated the previous congressional map, stating that it relied too heavily on race in the drawing of the 6th Congressional District. The revised map modifies this district, currently represented by Rep. Cleo Fields (D-LA), to be more favorable to Republicans, while the 2nd Congressional District, represented by Rep. Troy Carter (D-LA), will remain a majority-Black district.
In light of the court ruling, Governor Landry suspended the scheduled May 16 U.S. House primaries to allow lawmakers to redraw districts for the 2026 election cycle. The primaries have been rescheduled for November 3, returning to a “jungle primary” system where all candidates compete on a single ballot, with runoffs on December 12.
The redistricting has sparked political reactions, including criticism from Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA), who described the new map as “the worst I’ve seen yet” and a “Frankenstein” plan. This situation is part of a larger trend of congressional redistricting efforts across the country ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, with Republicans aiming to gain additional House seats through similar initiatives in states like Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, and Texas.
