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Louisiana Senate Approves Map Cutting a Majority-Black District as Courts Weigh Florida and Shut Down Virginia Bid

The moves reflect a post-ruling push by Republicans to lock in more U.S. House seats before 2026.

Louisiana state Sen. Jay Morris defends his legislature, Senate Bill 121, to the Louisiana state legislature on May 14, 2026, in Baton Rouge, La.
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State Rep. Angie Nixon, D-Fla., speaks loudly on the House floor as the House voted on HB1D, a redistricting bill, during a special session of the Florida Legislature, Wednesday, April 29, 2026, in Tallahassee, Fla. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Overview

  • The Louisiana Senate, which voted 27–10 on Thursday, advanced SB121 to dismantle one of two majority-Black districts and restore a likely 5–1 Republican tilt in the delegation.
  • Under the plan, Democratic Rep. Cleo Fields’ 6th District would be broken up into a GOP-leaning seat, leaving a single New Orleans-based district for Democrats that reaches into Baton Rouge.
  • The proposal now heads to the Louisiana House, where Republicans hold a supermajority, after Gov. Jeff Landry delayed the May 16 congressional primary to allow a redraw with a June 1 deadline.
  • A Leon County judge heard challenges on Friday to Florida’s new map that plaintiffs say violates the state’s 2010 ban on partisan gerrymandering, with no ruling yet as qualifying opens June 8.
  • The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday rejected Virginia Democrats’ emergency bid to revive a voter-approved map, leaving the state court’s ruling in place and blunting hopes of up to four new Democratic seats.