In his first hours as Louisiana’s new governor, Jeff Landry issued an executive order for a special session, following a federal court order to redraw the state’s congressional districts, after ruling that the current map dilutes the power of Black voters. The GOP-drawn map, used in November, features white majorities in five of six districts, even though Black people account for one third of the state’s population. Officials have until January 30th to pass new boundaries for the state’s congressional map. Landry also aims to address redistricting state Supreme Court districts and converting from an open primary to a closed one. Lawmakers are set to convene into a special session from January 15 to January 23.
There may be a heated debate among lawmakers as they try to arrive at an agreement to advance a new map that adheres to the federal court ruling. Democrats argue the congressional map discriminates against Black voters and should include two majority-minority districts, while Republicans maintain that the map is fair considering the dispersed Black populations in the state. In addition to congressional boundaries, the Governor also supports a second majority-Black district among the Louisiana Supreme Court’s seven seats. On the agenda for the special session will also be consideration of redrawing the court’s districts and changing the state’s primary election system.
Governor Jeff Landry has called a special session for lawmakers, initiating the process to redraw Louisiana’s congressional map after a federal court found the current map violates the Voting Rights Act. This move is likely to cause a heated debate among legislators as they are pressured to agree on new boundaries before the January 30th deadline, along with additional issues that Landry has introduced, including redrawing state Supreme Court districts and changing the state’s primary election system. Even if they can meet the deadline, the newly drawn political boundaries could still be challenged in court. Additionally, a second majority-Black district among the Supreme Court’s seven seats and a shift in the state’s primary election system will also be up for discussion.