{"id":2596963,"date":"2026-04-30T06:34:01","date_gmt":"2026-04-30T10:34:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/louisiana-voters-in-limbo-as-legislature-weighs-next-move-after-map-struck-down\/"},"modified":"2026-04-30T06:34:41","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T10:34:41","slug":"louisiana-voters-in-limbo-as-legislature-weighs-next-move-after-map-struck-down","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/louisiana-voters-in-limbo-as-legislature-weighs-next-move-after-map-struck-down\/","title":{"rendered":"Louisiana voters in limbo as legislature weighs next move after map struck down"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Flouisiana-voters-in-limbo-as-legislature-weighs-next-move-after-map-struck-down%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2596963&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>the U.S. Supreme Court\u2019s 6-3 decision striking down Louisiana\u2019s 2024 congressional redistricting as an unconstitutional racial gerrymander has thrown state officials into uncertainty just 17 days before the May 16 primary. Louisiana previously had to redraw its map after the 2022 version was found to violate the Voting Rights Act, and the new ruling now suggests the latest version swung too far in the other direction.<\/p>\n<p>The Court did not specify exactly what Louisiana should do next, leaving Republicans in the state legislature, the governor\u2019s office, and election and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/desantis-signs-floridas-version-of-the-save-america-act\/\" title=\"DeSantis signs Florida...s version of the SAVE America ...\">voting-rights groups<\/a> trying to determine whether new maps can be adopted in time. Attorney General Liz Murrill said it\u2019s still possible to act if the legislature moves quickly, while House Speaker Phillip Devillier and Senate President cameron Henry said they are reviewing the decision and meeting with relevant officials and counsel. Gov.Jeff Landry indicated his management needs time to vet the opinion before deciding on any options.<\/p>\n<p>Complicating matters, Louisiana already delayed the primary once in anticipation of the Supreme Court decision, and the original timeline for submitting new maps appears to have passed after the court\u2019s late ruling on April 29. One possible fallback discussed is reverting to the 2022 map, though that would not clearly solve whether changes coudl be implemented before the primary. Voter advocates are also concerned about practical steps-such as educating voters on their district assignments, handling any registration or district moves by the secretary of state, and avoiding disenfranchisement.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p>While national <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/republicans\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"240\">Republicans<\/a> celebrate the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/supreme-court\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"203\">Supreme Court\u2019s<\/a> 6-3 ruling that <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/louisiana\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"529\">Louisiana\u2019s<\/a> second majority-black district was drawn unconstitutionally, local leaders have been left scrambling to figure out what this means for the primary election 17 days away.<\/p>\n<p>Louisiana had to redraw its congressional map after a 2022 version was declared in violation of the Voting Rights Act by inaccurately reflecting the state\u2019s demographics. Now, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/supreme-court\/4410470\/supreme-court-strikes-down-race-based-redistricting-map-in-louisiana\/\">the Supreme Court has declared<\/a> the redrawn map of 2024 went too far the other way and constitutes a racial gerrymander. <\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4547856\/florida-desantis-redistricting-map-four-seats\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Florida legislature passes DeSantis\u2019s redistricted map in hopes of adding four GOP House seats<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4548129\/southern-republican-redistricting-supreme-court-vra\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Southern Republicans eye up redistricting route after Supreme Court\u2019s VRA decision<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4547686\/massie-align-trump-new-ad-primary-ed-gallrein\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Massie aligns his voting record with Trump in new ad ahead of primary<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-jetpack-image-compare\">\n<div class=\"juxtapose\" data-mode=\"horizontal\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>However, the high court did not make clear the process for what happens in Louisiana now. And with <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >early primary voting beginning<\/a> this weekend, and the primary slated for May 16, everyone from voting rights groups to the state\u2019s executive branch and legislative heads is motivated to act fast.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4480699\/2026-primaries-incumbent-warning-signs\/\"><strong>FIRST 2026 PRIMARIES REVEAL TROUBLE FOR INCUMBENTS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think there are a lot of questions and a lot of concerns as we try to understand exactly what does this mean for Louisiana?\u201d Ashley Shelton, founder, president, and CEO of Power Coalition, told the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have cut really close, right? The primaries have already happened in so many states,\u201d Shelton said. \u201cAnd so it\u2019s really unclear to me how they would be able to take swift action given the circumstance.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill came out immediately with <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shreveporttimes.com\/story\/news\/2026\/04\/29\/louisiana-attorney-general-says-new-congressional-map-could-be-drawn-for-election\/89858348007\/\">a statement, hopeful that Republicans<\/a> have enough time to institute new maps before the primary, insisting that \u201cit\u2019s still possible to do something\u201d as long as the legislature acts fast. <\/p>\n<p>Other leaders weren\u2019t as quick to argue in favor of pushing for a new map ahead of the midterm elections. <\/p>\n<p>Republicans state House Speaker Phillip Devillier and Senate President Cameron Henry said in a statement they are \u201creviewing the ruling.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are reviewing that ruling and meeting with our members, representatives from the executive branch, elections officials and counsel to determine next steps to be [taken] in the best interest of Louisiana voters and our state,\u201d the statement reads. <\/p>\n<p>The state Legislative Communications Office did not expand on the leaders\u2019 plans when reached by the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>Similarly, Gov. Jeff Landry (R-LA) said his office needs time to review the opinion before he announces any moves. <\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4538440\/by-the-numbers-how-many-seats-has-each-party-gained\/\">BY THE NUMBERS: HOW MANY SEATS HAS EACH PARTY GAINED IN REDISTRICTING?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s a very lengthy opinion, and we need to take the time to be able to properly vet that particular opinion to understand exactly what our options are,\u201d the governor said. \u201cThe Supreme Court picked an interesting time to be able to drop that on us. They could have dropped it on us in February. They could have dropped it on us in January.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Indeed, the state legislature already <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/lailluminator.com\/2025\/10\/29\/louisiana-election-dates\/\">delayed the primary date once<\/a> in preparation for the Supreme Court decision. <\/p>\n<p>During the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/update-letter-by-ted-cruz-and-6-gop-senators-and-4-senators-elect-sign-letter-to-reject-election-call-for-election-commission-10-day-emergency-audit-takes-place\/\" title=\"UPDATE: Letter by Ted Cruz and 6 GOP Senators and 4 Senators-Elect Sign Letter to Reject Election \u2013 Call For Election Commission 10-Day Emergency Audit Takes Place\">special legislative session<\/a> at the end of 2025, state Rep. Beau Beaullieu co-authored the bill to push the primary date from April 18 to May 19, 2026, which passed 73-29. However, at the time, he said he hoped the secretary of state would be able to submit new maps by Jan. 13, allowing time before the qualifying deadline a month later. With the Supreme Court not ruling in <em>Louisiana<\/em> <em>v. Callais<\/em> until April 29, that deadline is long gone. <\/p>\n<p>Louisiana officials had hoped for a ruling on the matter by Dec. 20, 2025, but were disappointed when the justices asked for a second round of arguments, delaying the ruling.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s possible the state legislature would revert to using the 2022 maps, which give Democrats one district compared to Republicans\u2019 five. Rep. Cleo Fields\u2019s (D-LA) district would be redrawn. This would simplify the legislature\u2019s approval process, but it still doesn\u2019t resolve whether the change can be made before the primary. <\/p>\n<p>The legislature leads redistricting in Louisiana, and the maps drawn by the Republican-controlled chambers are subject to the governor\u2019s veto. <\/p>\n<p>But the position isn\u2019t just confusing for politicians; voters and voter advocates aren\u2019t sure where the ruling leaves them in the meantime. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cAre we going to host additional [primaries]? Are we going to redo primaries?\u201d Shelton said. \u201cThen, too, there\u2019s the reality of the secretary of state having to move voters back from whatever district they\u2019re currently in into other districts. And that actually has to be a thoughtful process.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/state\/4487312\/virginia-redistrict-ballot-could-still-nixed-voting-experts-say\/\">VIRGINIA REDISTRICTING BALLOT MEASURE COULD STILL BE STRUCK DOWN AFTER VOTING, EXPERTS SAY<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Educating voters about which district they\u2019re in, and whether changes to their voter registration are needed, is a key responsibility of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/in-nevada-a-corrupt-cash-for-votes-scheme-is-hiding-in-plain-sight\/\" title=\"In Nevada, A Corrupt Cash-For-Votes Scheme Is Hiding In Plain Sight\">voter advocacy groups<\/a> and likely a major consideration for officials as they debate their next move.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf we don\u2019t move with the current maps, I mean \u2026 the only outcome is disenfranchisement,\u201d Shelton said. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>National Republicans praise the Supreme Court ruling, but Louisiana leaders scramble over its impact on a primary in 17 days<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2970,"featured_media":2596964,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/image-collage-2rmcqzlda-1777498609237-e1777499124211.jpg?1777488186&amp;w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[49528,65174,16985,32570],"class_list":["post-2596963","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-legislative-process","tag-louisiana-politics","tag-redistricting","tag-voting-rights"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/image-collage-2rmcqzlda-1777498609237-e1777499124211.jpg?1777488186&amp;w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2596963","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2970"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2596963"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2596963\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2596967,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2596963\/revisions\/2596967"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2596964"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2596963"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2596963"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2596963"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}