Louisiana governor calls special session ahead of Supreme Court voting rights ruling
Landry anticipates court decision could allow congressional map changes
NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - Gov. Jeff Landry has called Louisiana lawmakers back to the state Capitol ahead of an anticipated U.S. Supreme Court ruling that could reshape congressional districts and shift the balance of power in Washington.
The special session, set to begin Oct. 23, comes as justices prepare to rule on whether Louisiana’s congressional map was properly drawn to create a second majority-Black district.
“The governor is calling a special session because he believes that the Supreme Court is going to rule in favor of the state and is going to gut Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act and basically take out the racial discrimination test,” said Dr. Robert Collins, a political analyst at Dillard University.
Potential impact on congressional representation
The Supreme Court will determine whether Louisiana’s current map, which includes two majority-Black districts, complies with federal voting rights law. Collins said the ruling could allow other states to redraw their own congressional maps.
“Instead of having two black congressional districts, you would only have one, and the second black congressional district that you eliminated, in essence, they would draw it in such a way that it would be very favorable for a Republican to win that race,” Collins said.
All of Louisiana’s U.S. House representatives are up for re-election. Collins said Landry is trying to position the state ahead of the anticipated ruling.
“Coming into 2026, we know that there’s going to be a very tight race to control the U.S. House of Representatives, and so anywhere the Republicans can pick up an extra seat, they want to do so,” Collins said.
Session timing and strategy
Collins said the session will likely serve to push back dates to qualify for elections, giving lawmakers more time to react to the Supreme Court’s anticipated ruling.
“The governor and the legislature are basically gambling that the Supreme Court is going to issue an early ruling. If it doesn’t issue an early ruling, all of this will be for nothing,” Collins said.
If the court overturns part of the Voting Rights Act barring racial discrimination, Collins said the state would likely call another special session to redraw its map.
The Supreme Court has until June 30 to issue its decision.
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