By Baptist Message staff
WASHINGTON (LBM) – The United States Supreme Court ruled, April 29, that the current congressional map in Louisiana is unconstitutional.
The Court found that the state’s sixth congressional district was racially gerrymandered. Louisiana, in 2024, adopted the map after a court mandate required a second Black-majority district, which drew concern that some minority voters were being given unfair representation.
The more than 200-mile district connects parts of Shreveport, Alexandria, Lafayette and Baton Rouge.
Louisiana House Speaker Pro Temp Mike Johnson, a member with First Baptist Church, Pineville, told the Baptist Message that the Supreme Court decision is an important moment for the state and for the principle of equal representation under the law.
“Over the past year, I have taken the fight for fair maps all the way to the Supreme Court — twice because I believe deeply that every citizen deserves to be represented based on the whole population, not divided by race or political agendas.
“I voted against the current maps and my position has been consistent from the beginning,” he continued. “We must draw congressional districts that respect our Constitution, treat every voter equally, and reflect our communities as they truly exist. That includes protecting the integrity of local communities like Rapides Parish, which should not be carved up or divided for political or racial purposes.
“This has never been about opposing representation it has been about ensuring fairness, unity, and equal treatment under the law,” he said. “As Louisiana moves forward, I will continue to advocate for maps that:
— respect constitutional principles
— reflect all people, regardless of race
— keep communities like Rapides Parish whole; and
— restore trust in the process.
“The people of Louisiana deserve nothing less than fair, lawful and unified representation.”
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry took to Twitter to voice his approval of the SCOTUS ruling:
“The Supreme Court has affirmed what we have said for years: drawing districts for political reasons is the States’ prerogative, not a federal civil-rights violation. Federal judges cannot force a State to engage in race-based redistricting, and plaintiffs can no longer repackage partisan disagreements as Voting Rights Act cases.”
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill, a member with University Baptist Church, Baton Rouge, released a statement:
“We win in Louisiana v. Callais! The Supreme Court has ended Louisiana’s long-running nightmare of federal courts coercing the state to draw a racially discriminatory map. That was always unconstitutional—and this is a seismic decision reaffirming equal protection under our nation’s laws. I vigorously defended our first map and said then that the only way to draw a second majority-minority district was to expressly take race into account. We raised our objections at that time to racial gerrymandering, but the district court and the Fifth Circuit directed us to draw the map anyway. It is gratifying that the Supreme Court has finally vindicated our original position and, in doing so, clarified that only under very narrow circumstances—where there is proof of intentional discrimination—may race be used as a remedy under Section 2. It is frustrating that this has taken five years, millions of dollars, and many lost hours to get here. I will continue to work with the Governor and the Legislature to provide guidance as we move forward to adopt a constitutionally compliant map.”
