Supreme Court sharply limits use of race in redistricting in a win for Republicans

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Supreme Court rules on key Voting Rights Act rule as Republicans and Democrats wage redistricting war

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SCOTUS smothers Voting Rights Act, greenlighting racial discrimination and a rash of GOP gerrymanders

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Supreme Court Orders Louisiana to Redraw Racially Gerrymandered Map in Blow to Voting Rights Act

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Supreme Court Should End Racial Gerrymandering

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Which party will hold a plurality in the US House of Representatives after the 2026 midterm elections?

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Amy Howe

"Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh, both of whom joined the Milligan majority, also seemed highly skeptical of Louisiana’s new maps."

Ian Millhiser

"Each of the propositions [being put] forward here that Section 2 has to be limited in some way just to purposeful discrimination, that it doesn't authorize race-based redistricting as a remedy, and that we need to fundamentally overhaul the Gingles threshold inquiry was rejected, I don't know, three years ago, two years ago, by a majority of this Court."

"Justice Kavanaugh pointed out that, in another case, Louisiana is arguing that Section 2 is unconstitutional—perhaps suggesting that it is odd for the state to claim a compelling interest in complying with Section 2 at the same time that it is arguing that Section 2 is unconstitutional. "

Michael DiMino

"It's a pretty bare – it's a pretty significant showing – to establish that unequal opportunity of electoral processes is happening in a situation."

"Section 2 may remain in effect and be enforceable even if the court holds in Callais that states may not draw race-based districts to avoid a Section 2 violation."

"Kavanaugh appears to be the pivotal justice in the Louisiana case, just as he was two years ago in a similar redistricting dispute from Alabama... But now as the stakes have risen, Kavanaugh’s doubts have deepened."

"Expectations are growing that the Supreme Court’s decades-old framework that forces states to draw additional majority-minority districts under the key provision will be reined in one way or another."

“I am hopeful that this Court will soon realize that the conflict its Section 2 jurisprudence has sown with the Constitution is too severe to ignore.”

"I predict that Louisiana will be able to cobble together five votes one way or another."

Rick Hasen

"The outcome in this case was decided long before the lawyers arrived at the courthouse. The six Republican justices are going to declare the Voting Rights Act inert and allow the dilution of Black voting rights through racist gerrymandering"

Will the U.S. Supreme Court Overturn Provisions of the Voting Rights Act as Part of Louisiana v. Callais?

The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in Louisiana v. Callais on April 29, 2026, finding that Louisiana's redrawn congressional map — which created a second majority-Black district — constituted an unconstitutional racial gerrymander under the Equal Protection Clause.

The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in Louisiana v. Callais on April 29, 2026, finding that Louisiana's redrawn congressional map — which created a second majority-Black district — constituted an unconstitutional racial gerrymander under the Equal Protection Clause.

Justice Samuel Alito, writing for the majority, held that Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act imposes liability only when circumstances give rise to a strong inference of intentional discrimination, narrowing how the provision applies to redistricting.

Justice Samuel Alito, writing for the majority, held that Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act imposes liability only when circumstances give rise to a strong inference of intentional discrimination, narrowing how the provision applies to redistricting.

The ruling updated the Gingles framework, requiring plaintiffs to submit illustrative maps that meet all of a state's nonracial districting goals — including political objectives — and to control for party affiliation when demonstrating racially polarized voting.

The ruling updated the Gingles framework, requiring plaintiffs to submit illustrative maps that meet all of a state's nonracial districting goals — including political objectives — and to control for party affiliation when demonstrating racially polarized voting.

Justice Elena Kagan, joined by Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson in dissent, argued the ruling "renders Section 2 all but a dead letter" and called it "the latest chapter" in what she described as the majority's "demolition of the Voting Rights Act."

Justice Elena Kagan, joined by Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson in dissent, argued the ruling "renders Section 2 all but a dead letter" and called it "the latest chapter" in what she described as the majority's "demolition of the Voting Rights Act."

Louisiana's Republican Attorney General Liz Murrill called the decision "seismic," while NAACP President Derrick Johnson said it "betrayed Black voters." An analysis by Fair Fight Action and Black Voters Matter Fund estimated the ruling could affect up to 12 Democratic-held House districts.

Louisiana's Republican Attorney General Liz Murrill called the decision "seismic," while NAACP President Derrick Johnson said it "betrayed Black voters." An analysis by Fair Fight Action and Black Voters Matter Fund estimated the ruling could affect up to 12 Democratic-held House districts.

The decision marks the third major ruling weakening the Voting Rights Act since 2013, following Shelby County v. Holder and Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee in 2021. Justice Kagan noted that no Section 2 ballot-restriction suit has succeeded since the 2021 ruling.

The decision marks the third major ruling weakening the Voting Rights Act since 2013, following Shelby County v. Holder and Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee in 2021. Justice Kagan noted that no Section 2 ballot-restriction suit has succeeded since the 2021 ruling.

SCOTUS Guts Voting Rights Act in 6-3 Ruling

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SCOTUS Guts Voting Rights Act in 6-3 Ruling

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