Supreme Court Greenlights Louisiana’s Congressional Map with Two Majority-Black Districts

Washington, D.C. – In a significant ruling on Wednesday, the Supreme Court has allowed Louisiana to proceed with a congressional map that introduces two majority-Black districts for this year’s elections. This decision comes after an emergency request by an unusual coalition of Republican state officials and civil rights groups, who argued that the recent lower court decision invalidating the map needed to be halted to prevent electoral disarray. The state had emphasized the urgency of finalizing the map to meet bureaucratic deadlines.

The high court’s conservative majority moved forward with allowing the map, while the three liberal justices, led by Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, dissented. Justice Jackson highlighted that there was still ample time to address the legal issues raised and craft a map that could serve all communities fairly without risking voter confusion.

This map has been at the center of contentious litigation, especially after last year’s Supreme Court ruling that bolstered the Voting Rights Act, leading to a redrawn map that aimed to rectify racial discrimination evident in Alabama’s congressional districts.

However, the redrawn map faced another legal challenge from a group of plaintiffs identified as “non-African American,” who argued that creating a second majority-Black district constituted racial discrimination under the 14th Amendment. A federal court agreed with this claim and struck down the map, but with the electoral process looming, the state urged the Supreme Court to intervene to avoid chaos.

Quentin Anthony Anderson, Democratic candidate in the 6th district whose campaign recently released its unfiled amicus brief that argued against any late-stage changes to the map, commented on the ruling, saying, “I am relieved that the Supreme Court has issued a stay regarding the recent 5th Circuit Court ruling on Louisiana’s congressional redistricting. This decision allows the electoral process to proceed under the map established in January, which was designed to ensure fair representation and compliance with the Voting Rights Act.”

Anderson continued, “Our campaign will continue as planned, focusing on reaching voters across the district – from Baton Rouge to Shreveport – discussing critical issues, and building a grassroots movement committed to bringing real change to Louisiana.”

As the state looks towards implementing this map, all eyes will be on how it impacts the upcoming congressional races. Our campaign is gearing up to ensure that voters are well-informed and ready to make their voices heard in an election landscape that continues to evolve.

Stay tuned to our campaign website for more updates and detailed analyses on how this affects our community and how you can get involved in safeguarding our electoral rights.

Anderson Statement on SCOTUS Congressional Map Decision

The following is an official statement from Quentin Anthony Anderson, Democratic candidate for Congress in Louisiana’s 6th Congressional District:

I am relieved that the Supreme Court has issued a stay regarding the recent 5th Circuit Court ruling on Louisiana’s congressional redistricting. This decision allows the electoral process to proceed under the map established in January, which was designed to ensure fair representation and compliance with the Voting Rights Act.

Our campaign will continue as planned, focusing on reaching voters across the district – from Baton Rouge to Shreveport – discussing critical issues, and building a grassroots movement committed to bringing real change to Louisiana.

We are grateful for the opportunity to compete in a relatively stable electoral environment & look forward to a vigorous campaign.

Why We’re Sharing Our Unfiled Supreme Court Brief

Today, I want to share a bit of the behind-the-scenes of our campaign and a challenge we recently faced that speaks volumes about the hurdles grassroots campaigns often encounter.

We crafted an amicus brief to support maintaining the current electoral map in Louisiana’s 6th District amid ongoing legal disputes. This map is crucial for ensuring that this year’s election is fair and voters aren’t left baffled by last-minute changes. Our brief focused on how sudden shifts in district boundaries could confuse voters and disadvantage grassroots campaigns like ours, which don’t have the deep pockets or extensive legal teams that some of our competitors might.

However, we hit a snag.

Despite our best efforts, we couldn’t secure a Supreme Court-qualified attorney in time to file our brief. The reality for a grassroots campaign like ours – running on a shoestring budget – is that accessing such resources isn’t always feasible. Unlike campaigns flush with millions, we operate with what we have, which means we sometimes face limitations that aren’t just financial but also logistical.

Rather than let our hard work sit unseen on a desk, we’ve decided to make our brief public. We believe it’s crucial for everyone to understand how important stable electoral boundaries are for fair elections. You can check out our full argument below — it’s a plea for clarity and fairness, qualities that should define every election but often don’t.

This isn’t just about our campaign. It’s about ensuring that all candidates and voters can engage in a transparent and democratic process, without the goalposts moving unexpectedly. We’re sharing our story and this brief to highlight how critical—and fragile—our democratic processes can be, especially for those of us without endless resources.

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We want to thank Ashley White, Kenneth Barnes, Louisiana Appleseed and countless other invaluable advisors who helped us articulate an argument we think is crucial not only to this campaign, but to our democracy moving forward.

Quentin Anthony Anderson’s Statement on the 5th Circuit Court Ruling

In light of the recent decision by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn the creation of a second majority-Black district in Louisiana, my campaign wishes to clarify our stance and our plans moving forward. This ruling, which challenges the efforts to address historical voting disparities in our state, has injected significant uncertainty into the electoral process.

I want to assure all our supporters and the residents of the 6th District that our campaign will continue to operate under the assumption that the map contested by the federal appellate court remains the operational framework for the upcoming election. Given the timing and the complexity of the legal challenges, this is the most logical path to avoid further voter confusion in 2024.

The recent judicial rulings highlight a troubling inconsistency: a federal court has mandated the creation of a district to rectify racial disenfranchisement, yet the appellate decision now challenges this mandate on grounds of alleged racial gerrymandering. This judicial back-and-forth not only complicates the legal landscape but also threatens the integrity of our electoral process.

Moreover, the continuous uncertainty surrounding the final district map deeply concerns me, as it risks disenfranchising all voters in Louisiana, particularly in such a critical election year. The need for stability and clarity has never been more urgent.

In response to this situation, I am calling on the Supreme Court of the United States to hear this case and make a definitive ruling as swiftly as possible. It is vital to resolve these legal ambiguities to prevent any further disenfranchisement of voters and to ensure that our electoral processes remain fair and transparent.

While I firmly oppose the concept of gerrymandering, whether to correct or perpetuate disenfranchisement, I recognize that the current map passed in January, though not perfect, represented a step toward addressing the significant underrepresentation of Black Louisianans in Congress. I expect that map to be the one voters are presented with in November and I will continue to campaign accordingly.

As we navigate these turbulent waters, my campaign is more dedicated than ever to representing the interests and voices of all constituents in the 6th District. I promise to keep you informed and engaged as we await further developments and continue our journey toward a more representative Louisiana.

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Understanding Louisiana’s New Congressional District: A Step Toward Fair Representation

In recent Louisiana politics, a significant change has occurred with the redrawing of the state’s congressional districts, a development that directly impacts the political landscape both locally and nationally. We wanted to take some time to demystify the redistricting process, explaining why it happened, its implications, and what it means moving forward.

Why Redistricting Happened

The redistricting process in Louisiana was driven by a federal court ruling that found the previous congressional map diluted Black voting power, violating Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. This decision came after a prolonged legal battle aimed at ensuring fair representation for Black voters in Louisiana, who make up nearly a third of the state’s population but were majorities in only one of six districts. The 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals gave the legislature a January 30, 2024 deadline to draw a new congressional map.

When and What Elections Will Be Impacted

The new map was enacted on January 22, 2024 – just ahead of the 2024 congressional elections. This timing means the newly drawn districts will be in effect for these elections, potentially reshaping the state’s delegation to Congress starting with the election on November 5, 2024.

Who is Impacted

The redistricting process has resulted in significant changes for Louisiana’s 6th Congressional District, increasing its Black voter makeup from 23% to 54%. This alteration shifts the district from a likely Republican hold to a probable Democratic gain, affecting both the incumbent, Rep. Garret Graves, and other political figures considering runs in the new landscape, like Quentin Anthony Anderson 🙂

Impact on the Political Landscape

The creation of a second majority-Black district is expected to enhance Democratic chances in Louisiana, contributing to a more balanced representation that reflects the state’s racial demographic makeup. While this is a victory for advocates of voting rights, it also doesn’t help alleviate concerns about regional representation – especially for those who are worried the new district is too South Louisiana heavy, at the expense of North Louisiana representation.

Quentin’s View

While I recognize that redistricting/gerrymandering is a fraught process, I also understand that this particular outcome is a step towards correcting historical injustices in representation. Although the solution is not perfect and might reduce geographic coherence, it addresses the longstanding underrepresentation of Black Louisianans. I am committed to supporting fair maps that promote equitable representation. I view the new district setup as an imperfect but positive advance towards truly fair representation.

I am hopeful that this change is a move towards resolving the issues of fair representation once and for all. It’s crucial that every citizen feels represented and that every community has a voice in the halls of power. This redistricting, while a compromise, is a stride in the right direction.

Conclusion

As we approach the 2024 elections, it’s vital for voters to understand the new dynamics at play. This redistricting isn’t just a reshuffling of boundaries—it’s about making democracy work better for everyone. By ensuring that more voices are heard, we strengthen the fabric of our community and our nation.

For more details on our campaign’s stance and updates, visit Anderson2024.org.