01The decision
On April 29, 2026, the Supreme Court decided Louisiana v. Callais, 6 to 3. Justice Samuel Alito wrote for the majority, joined by Chief Justice Roberts and Justices Thomas, Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, and Barrett. Justice Elena Kagan dissented, joined by Justices Sotomayor and Jackson.
The Court struck down Louisiana's congressional map, which had created a second district where Black voters could elect their candidate of choice. It held that complying with the Voting Rights Act did not require Louisiana to draw that district, and that the map was an unconstitutional racial gerrymander.
02Why it matters far beyond Louisiana
Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act has been the main tool for challenging maps that dilute the voting power of Black, Latino, Asian American, and Native voters, especially since the Court's 2013 Shelby County decision disabled federal preclearance under Section 5.
The Court stopped short of striking Section 2 entirely. But voting rights advocates say the majority opinion raises the burden on plaintiffs so high that many claims become nearly impossible to win, in part because states can defend a map by saying they drew it to help a political party rather than to disadvantage a racial group. In much of the South, race and party are so closely linked that the distinction offers wide cover.
03The chaos it creates
Coming in the middle of an election year and a national redistricting fight, the ruling invites states to revisit districts drawn to comply with Section 2. Advocates warn of a wave of new maps before 2028 that eliminate majority minority and opportunity districts, shrinking representation for communities that fought for decades to win it.
04Restoring protections
- Congress: pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to restore preclearance and clarify Section 2's standards.
- States: a growing number, including California, Washington, New York, and Connecticut, have passed state voting rights acts that provide protections independent of federal law.
- State courts: state constitutions can offer stronger voting protections than the federal one.
- Elections: the Senate confirms the justices and judges who decide these cases.
Rights that depend on a single statute can be taken away by a single ruling. Rights backed by voters, states, and Congress are harder to erase.
Opinion and analysis from the Feed After Midnight editorial desk. Facts, figures, and quotes are drawn from the reporting listed in the sources below and reflect what was known on the publish date.
Frequently asked questions
In a 6 to 3 decision on April 29, 2026, the Court struck down Louisiana's congressional map with a second Black opportunity district as an unconstitutional racial gerrymander and held that the Voting Rights Act did not require it.