WEST MONROE, La. (KTVE/KARD) — After two years of intense litigation, the Supreme Court has approved for Louisiana to move forward with the state’s congressional map which includes two majority-black districts.
The new congressional district has affected mainly the second and sixth districts where the majority of the population is African American. The two districts stretch from Baton Rouge to Lafayette and from Alexandria to Shreveport. Ouachita Parish will be affected since the fourth district will be taking almost half of the parish in the congressional plans.
The majority-minority districts now after the latest court ruling are the 2nd district and the 6th district. The district five is also affected but it remains fairly safe for representative Julia Letlow and of course Mike Johnson is over in the 4th district around the Shreveport area which is not affected at all.
Dr. Pearson Cross, ULM’s School of Behavioral and Social Sciences
This is to ensure minorities an equal chance when it comes to voting. This could possibly give Democrats the opportunity to pick up a seat and potentially take back the House from the Republicans.
A suit was filed saying that we really should have two majority-minority districts given that the black population in Louisiana is about 32 to 33% of the population. So, the courts have held that we really should have two of our six congressional districts be a majority minority seat likely to elect a minority.
ULM’s School of Behavioral and Social Sciences
Although the new districting can be beneficial to the black community, some have shown concerns towards new congressional plans. Dr. Cross says that by creating the minority districts, it is acknowledging that people vote in ways that are influenced by racial groups. Due to the redistricting, this could potentially benefit the Democratic party allowing them to take back the House from the Republicans.
Having African Americans who maintain about 32% or 33% of the vote to having an equal chance to electing a representative is probably a good thing. On the other hand, creating majority minority districts is acknowledging that people vote in ways that are influenced by racial groups and groupings and hence it reflects a society that is some what divided.
ULM’s School of Behavioral and Social Sciences
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