Louisiana's congressional primaries will not proceed as scheduled in May after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a majority Black congressional district in the state. Republican Gov. Jeff Landry issued an executive order Thursday suspending the primary election to allow state lawmakers time to redraw House districts. Early voting had been set to begin Saturday ahead of the May 16 primaries, though contests for other state offices will proceed on schedule.
The Supreme Court decision represents another significant blow to voting rights protections. The court eliminated a major provision of the Voting Rights Act, which over six decades became one of the nation's most consequential laws, preventing discrimination against minorities at the ballot box and enabling the election of thousands of Black and Hispanic representatives across all levels of government. Wednesday's ruling came more than a decade after the court had already weakened another key section of the same law.
Voting and civil rights advocates warn that the successive court decisions hollow out the landmark law's protections and will trigger severe erosion of minority representation. President Donald Trump has urged other states to consider revising their districts in light of the court's ruling.
