The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to take up a major case that could outlaw the use of race when drawing congressional maps. The decision has the potential to “fundamentally reshape the nation’s legislative maps,” Fox News reported Friday.
The case stems from Louisiana, where Republicans are pushing back on a second majority-black district they were forced to create under the Voting Rights Act.
Justices will now consider arguments questioning whether the 1965 law still allows race-based redistricting. The outcome could impact maps in multiple states and shake up the makeup of Congress.
As of the 2022 midterms, the House included 11 majority-black districts and 31 majority-Hispanic districts. Democrats have used these lines to lock in power through racial gerrymandering, critics say.
The new case builds on Allen v. Milligan, a 2023 decision where the Court ruled 5-4 against Alabama Republicans and forced the state to create a second majority-black district. That ruling gave Democrats a new seat in 2024, per Trending Politics.
The Milligan decision triggered a similar redraw in Louisiana, with Democrats again gaining ground. But that win may be short-lived if the Court reverses course.
In the Louisiana v. Callais case, justices will weigh whether the VRA itself is unconstitutional when used to justify districts drawn primarily on race.
Justices Roberts and Kavanaugh, who sided with the majority in Milligan, have already raised concerns about the new Louisiana map. Both pointed to the “less compact” shape of the district as a red flag.
On Friday, the Court escalated its involvement by ordering additional legal briefs specifically addressing the constitutionality of race-based maps. That move signals a willingness to reconsider Section 2 of the VRA.
Section 2 has long been used by Democrats and left-wing activists to pressure states into creating racially gerrymandered districts. Justice Clarence Thomas has warned for years that such policies violate the Constitution.
“The conservative majority on the Court is clearly prepared to revisit the entire framework of race-based redistricting,” one legal expert told Fox News. “This could dismantle the racial spoils system once and for all.”
The timing is key. A ruling is expected by June 2026, ahead of midterm elections. Republican-controlled states like Texas and Ohio could benefit the most.
By eliminating forced majority-minority districts, GOP mapmakers may be able to reclaim seats currently locked in by Democrat vote-packing.
But analysts also note there’s risk. Weakening Section 2 could scatter Democrat voters across more districts, possibly making liberal strongholds harder to defend.
The Biden administration has opposed any changes to the VRA’s application, calling race-based districts “essential to ensuring fair representation.”
The Supreme Court isn’t buying it. The justices have signaled they’re ready to scale back federal control and return redistricting to the states.
If the Court rules against the use of race, Democrats will likely lose one of their most powerful tools in shaping House races for decades to come.
A final decision in this case could realign the entire electoral landscape before voters head to the polls in 2026.
