It seems like every few years a new case is at the U.S. Supreme Court dealing with a congressional district map from Louisiana. 

This year is no different, as the Louisiana vs Callais case awaits a decision that many court observers think will significantly change protections the Voting Rights Act gives for minority representation in congressional districts. 

Whether the court once again weakens democracy through a bad redistricting case ruling or not, one thing is clear — this one decision isn’t an excuse to dismantle congressional districts built to support Black representation all over the South.

Looking at you, Florida, Alabama, and South Carolina. 

Here’s why it doesn’t make sense to rip open the maps before the next census: 

1. Mid-decade redistricting is already a failure for President Trump.

And changing more maps won’t save it or Republican control of Congress. Breaking this norm to win a few seats has kicked off a national redistricting war that Trump isn’t winning. Changing more seats due to a Supreme Court case will just encourage more states to balance the scales. For the handful of seats that may flip for states who disregard VRA protections, it will embolden other states on the sidelines to join the fight. The partisan difference will be minimal, but the damage to democratic norms will be massive. There’s no reason for other states to open their maps up now. 

2. Regardless of the political bend of a current Supreme Court, Black representation in Congress matters.  

President Trump is already targeting Black representation in mid-decade redistricting.  According to the data, Black representation in Congress didn’t match the percentage of Americans who identified as Black until 2023. That data is heavily influenced by House members who are Black, so reducing that number through eliminating VRA-protected districts will send us backward on this issue.

The VRA has been the vehicle that has slowly increased Black representation in Congress. It’s important to have people who have the same shared experiences as those they represent in Congress. Dismantling districts will change that. 

Frankly, it’s not right. 

Regardless of how the Supreme Court rules on the Louisiana map, Americans deserve better than multiple states dismantling Black representation in Congress. 

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