Even before the words are written Supreme Court decision After Louisiana’s majority-black congressional district was toppled, some states have already taken steps to respond.
Wednesday’s ruling sharply limits the use of race when drawing electoral districts, weakening a Civil Rights Era Law Which strengthened the representation of minorities in Congress.
The decision came in the midst of a special legislative session in Florida in which Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis called for congressional redistricting, assuming the Supreme Court would rule as it did. The Republican governor of Mississippi has already done so A special legislative session was announcedconditional on the court’s ruling.
Here’s a look at how some states responded to the ruling:
Hours after the Supreme Court’s decision, the Republican-led Florida Legislature convened New districts were approved in the US House of Representatives This could help the Republican Party win up to four additional seats in the November midterm elections.
DeSantis had called a special legislative session without knowing when the Supreme Court would issue its opinion on the redistricting case in Louisiana. But DeSantis was very confident in how the court would rule.
He unveiled a new map of the U.S. House of Representatives on Monday, which, among other things, redraws the Southeast Florida district that DeSantis said was created to help elect a Black representative in an effort to comply with the federal Voting Rights Act.
“It is properly understood that the Fourteenth Amendment prohibits the government from dividing citizens on the basis of race, in whole or in part,” DeSantis wrote in a letter Monday to lawmakers.
A constitutional amendment approved by Florida voters in 2010 prohibits gerrymandering to deny or reduce the ability of racial or linguistic minorities to elect representatives of their choice. But DeSantis had said he considered this amendment a violation of the US Constitution.
Whether this is true remains to be determined. Ruth Greenwood, director of the Election Law Clinic at Harvard Law School, said the Supreme Court’s decision does not automatically invalidate the state’s constitutional protections against racial discrimination in voting districts.
Late last week, Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves, a Republican, announced that he would call a special legislative session to redraw voting districts for the state Supreme Court. He said it would begin 21 days after the US Supreme Court’s ruling in the Louisiana case.
A federal judge ordered the state of Mississippi to do so last year Restructuring its Supreme Court voting districts after being found to have violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act by diluting the power of black voters. Mississippi lawmakers had been waiting for a decision in the Louisiana case before moving forward, but their legislative session ended earlier this month.
Reeves said in his announcement that the US Supreme Court’s decision will provide guidance to lawmakers on whether “race-based redistricting” violates the US Constitution.
State representatives last year Vote for delay Louisiana’s primary election will be held from April 18 to May 16 to allow time to respond to the Supreme Court’s decision on the state’s congressional districts, which was at issue in the case decided Wednesday. But it took longer for that decision to come than some lawmakers expected.
Early voting is scheduled to begin on Saturday. It was unclear Wednesday whether Louisiana’s Republican-led Legislature might attempt to redraw congressional districts before the general election in November.
House Speaker Philippe Devilliers and Senate President Cameron Henry said in a statement that they are reviewing the ruling and consulting with others “to determine the next steps that should be taken in the best interests of Louisiana voters and our state.” Republican Gov. Jeff Landry also said he is speaking with leaders to see what their options are.
A federal court in 2023 ordered the creation of a new, near-majority black district, resulting in the election of Alabama’s second black representative to the U.S. House of Representatives. Alabama under Court order To use the new map until after the next census in 2030. But an appeal pending before the Supreme Court says the map is an illegal racial gerrymander.
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall praised Wednesday’s decision in the Louisiana case. He said he “will move as quickly as possible to apply this ruling to Alabama’s redistricting efforts and ensure that our congressional maps reflect the will of the people, not racial quotas prohibited by the Constitution.”
But it can still take some time. The state’s primary election is scheduled for May 19, and Republican Governor Kay Ivey said the state is “not in a position to hold a special session at this time.”
The Tennessee General Assembly ended its annual session last week. But Republican U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn, who is running for governor, said on social media on Wednesday that the Republican-controlled Legislature should reconvene and redraw Tennessee’s borders. Democratic congressional district only In favor of Republicans. The district is currently centered in the majority black city of Memphis.
Republican House and Senate leaders in Tennessee said they are discussing the possibility of redistricting. But Senate President Randy McNally said there are some hurdles to changing districts. The qualifying period for candidates ended in March, and the primary election takes place in August.
“With the filing deadline passed and eligible candidates already competing for election, redistricting congressional seats at this time will present several logistical challenges,” McNally said.
Fearing the Supreme Court would undermine the Voting Rights Act, the Democratic-led Illinois House of Representatives last week approved a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would add protections for redistricting based on race.
This measure would make it a priority to draw legislative districts that ensure voters have the opportunity to elect representatives of their choice “on the basis of race.” Creating “racial coalitions or spheres of influence”—where the bulk of voters are minorities—would rank higher in priority than contiguous or merged regions.
But Senate President Don Harmon said Wednesday that the amendment would not pass this session, to allow time for legal experts to review the court’s ruling.
“The last thing we want is to act hastily and risk unintended consequences in the future,” he added. “There is too much at stake for too many.” ___
Lieb reported from Jefferson City, Missouri. Associated Press writers Kim Chandler in Montgomery, Alabama; Sarah Klein in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Jonathan Mathis in Nashville; John O’Connor in Springfield, Illinois, contributed to this report.