A major Supreme Court ruling is set to reshape the redistricting battlefield ahead of 2026.
In a 6–3 decision, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that Louisiana’s congressional map — which added a second majority-Black district — amounted to an unconstitutional racial gerrymander, tightening how states can use race when drawing political boundaries.
Justice Samuel Alito, writing for the majority, said the state’s actions went too far.
“Compliance with Section 2 thus could not justify the State’s use of race-based redistricting here,” Alito wrote, concluding that Louisiana’s map crossed constitutional limits.
The case, Louisiana v. Callais, centered on whether the state’s effort to create a second majority-Black district — in response to legal pressure under the Voting Rights Act of 1965 — violated the Constitution.
The Court said it did.
While the justices stopped short of dismantling Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, the ruling narrows how it can be applied — particularly when it comes to race-based mapmaking.
The majority acknowledged that complying with the law can be a legitimate state interest, but emphasized that it does not grant unlimited authority to prioritize race in redistricting decisions.
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🚨 BREAKING: The Supreme Court has ruled that drawing Congressional districts based on race under the Voting Rights Act is UNCONSTITUTIONAL, 6-3
This is a HUGE win, and could have MASSIVE ramifications for the 2026 midterms
Democrats for YEARS have sued over and over again to… pic.twitter.com/a7E2HMmJwi
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) April 29, 2026
