Louisiana is halting its congressional House elections just days before voting begins, Governor Jeff Landry announced Thursday following a Supreme Court decision that invalidated the state's electoral map.
Landry invoked his emergency powers to suspend primary elections scheduled for May 16 and June 27. Early voting was set to start Saturday, and absentee ballots had already shipped to overseas voters. The governor's executive order does not affect other races or ballot measures on the calendar.
The pause gives lawmakers time to redraw the congressional districts. "Allowing elections to proceed under an unconstitutional map would undermine the integrity of our system and violate the rights of our voters," Landry said in a statement. He provided no timeline for when the primaries would be rescheduled.
The move came after the Supreme Court's 6-3 decision Wednesday struck down Louisiana's congressional map as an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. Justice Samuel Alito wrote for the majority that the state's use of race in creating a second majority-Black congressional district violated the law. The ruling significantly limits protections under the Voting Rights Act that had previously shielded voting rights for people of color.
Landry and Attorney General Liz Murrill said they are coordinating with the Legislature and the Secretary of State's office to chart a course forward, though specifics remain unclear. State lawmakers are expected to tackle redistricting during the current legislative session, which ends June 1.
Landry welcomed the Supreme Court decision as a victory. "The best way to end race-based discrimination is to stop making decisions based on race," he said. "Here in Louisiana, we're proud to lead the nation on this charge."
The redrawn map could reshape Louisiana's congressional representation. The state currently has two majority-Black districts, both represented by Democrats: Rep. Cleo Fields, who was elected last year to represent the newer district, and Rep. Troy Carter, whose district includes New Orleans. Civil rights leaders expect the new map could reduce the number of majority-Black districts. Alanah Odoms, executive director of the ACLU of Louisiana, anticipated lawmakers would draw either six majority-white districts or five majority-white and one majority-Black district.
President Trump praised Landry on Truth Social Thursday for "moving so quickly to fix the Unconstitutionality of Louisiana's Congressional Maps." Trump also referenced redistricting efforts in Tennessee, saying they would "give us one extra seat, and help Save our Country from the Radical Left Democrats."
Author James Rodriguez: "Landry's emergency declaration sidesteps the clock, but the real fight over what Louisiana's map looks like is just beginning in the legislature."
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