Louisiana’s Republican Governor Jeff Landry has informed GOP House candidates that he intends to postpone the upcoming primary elections scheduled for May 16, according to a Washington Post report citing sources familiar with the conversations that took place Wednesday.
The governor’s formal announcement regarding the primary suspension could be made as soon as Friday, just one day before early voting was scheduled to begin, according to the report. Reuters was unable to independently confirm these details, and Governor Landry has not yet responded to requests for comment.
This decision comes in response to a 6-3 Supreme Court decision that struck down Louisiana’s electoral map, which would have created a second congressional district with a Black majority. Louisiana’s population is approximately one-third Black, and the state currently has six seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The high court’s decision significantly weakened an important section of the Voting Rights Act, making it more difficult for minority groups to contest electoral maps they believe are racially discriminatory under this historic civil rights legislation.
As the November congressional races approach, this Supreme Court ruling may prompt other Republican-controlled states to attempt redistricting efforts that could threaten House seats currently considered secure for Democrats. Black voters historically tend to support Democratic candidates.
The court’s decision arrives amid ongoing redistricting battles between Republican and Democratic states nationwide, as both parties seek to redraw electoral boundaries for political advantage before the November elections.
Former President Donald Trump and Republican leaders are working to maintain their narrow control of both the House and Senate in the upcoming elections.
