At issue is Louisiana’s attempt to create a second majority-Black congressional district. The state’s legislature contends that the creation of this district is required to comply with Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which prohibits redistricting plans that dilute the voting power of minority communities. Plaintiffs, led by Phillip Callais, argue that the new map amounts to an unconstitutional racial gerrymander that violates the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments.

The Fourteenth Amendment guarantees equal protection under the law, while the Fifteenth prohibits denying citizens the right to vote based on race. Attorneys for Louisiana argued during Wednesday’s hearing that the state was essentially placed between a rock and a hard place: either create a second Black-majority district or face federal intervention by the Justice Department.

Potential National Implications
While the case focuses on Louisiana, its implications could extend nationwide. A Supreme Court ruling in favor of Callais could limit the ability of states to consider race in redistricting, potentially reshaping dozens of congressional maps and influencing the partisan balance of the House of Representatives. Analysts warn that a decision against the state could threaten 19 Democratic-held districts, many of which have relied on protections under the Voting Rights Act to maintain their electoral composition.