The Louisiana House of Representatives passed a new congressional map that will reshape voting districts and elections within the state on Jan. 19.

Louisiana lawmakers recently redrew the congressional districts, creating a second majority-Black district. This decision comes after the current congressional map was found to be non-compliant with the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Created as a result of the Civil Rights Movement, the Voting Rights Act protects against racial discrimination when it comes to voting. Section II of the act forbids state and local governments from implementing voting laws that discriminate against minorities.        

One-third of Louisiana’s population is Black, according to the 2020 census. However, the current congressional map, passed in 2022, allows for only one Black-majority district. 

A group of Black voters challenged the map in federal court. The court agreed and demanded Louisiana lawmakers change the map by Jan. 30.

Many praised the new map as a move in the direction of  representation. Louisiana House Rep. Matthew Willard (D) supported the new congressional map. 

“Approximately one-third of Louisiana’s population is Black,” Willard said. “Yet, only one-sixth of our State’s congressional districts were majority-minority, which denied African-American voters an opportunity to select the candidate of their choice.” 

 Others, such as U.S. Rep. Garret Graves (R-LA), believe that the map prioritizes race over the thoughts and feelings over voters.

“It was a boneheaded move to do what was done last week — a real head-scratcher. Nobody campaigned on these issues,” Graves said. “They solely took race into consideration, which you can’t do.” 

Graves represents the voters of the 6th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. The new map particularly impacts Graves’s District, which will now stretch from Shreveport to Baton Rouge. As a result of the map change, the 6th Congressional District will become the second Black-majority district. 

Ouachita Parish will be divided between the 4th and 5th Congressional Districts currently represented by Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R) and Rep. Julia Letlow (R) respectively. The cities of Monroe and West Monroe will remain a part of the 5th District. 

This new map could have political ramifications during the upcoming election in November.