The Louisiana v. Callais Supreme Court decision on Wednesday has upended the 2026 midterm elections, with members of the Congressional Black Caucus’ reelection chances under threat should Republican-controlled legislatures move to redistrict.
In a 6-3 ruling, the court declared Louisiana’s congressional map, which was ordered by a court to have two majority-black districts in compliance with a previous interpretation of the Voting Rights Act, an “unconstitutional racial gerrymander.”
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., appearing alongside fellow members of the Congressional Black Caucus at a Wednesday press conference, characterized the ruling as part of a Republican effort to “rig the midterm elections.”
The ruling is a major plot twist in a long redistricting battle in which Democrats had appeared to gain the upper hand. It could open the way for red states to eliminate majority-minority districts that were mandated under the previous interpretation of the Voting Rights Act.
Georgia Republican Party Chairman Josh McKoon called on his party Wednesday to redistrict in the Peach State after the ruling. Similarly, Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and Rep. Barry Moore, R-Ala., have called on their states to redistrict.
At the Wednesday press conference, Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Ala., called for blue states to gerrymander their maps unanimously in favor of Democrats.
“I’d take 52 seats from California. I sure would. And 17 seats with Illinois,” Sewell said. “Because at the end of the day, they’re rigging this election to try to win. And we can’t just sit back here and do nothing.”
In response to the ruling, New York Democrat Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a post on X that she’s “working with the Legislature to change New York’s redistricting process.” An independent commission currently manages the state’s redistricting.
The high court’s decision could fuel Democrat frustration with the court.
Rep. Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y., called for Democrats to attempt to rework the court if they regain power.
“We will fight for Supreme Court reform, we will pursue term limits for justices, and we will do what it takes to restore integrity, accountability, and trust,” she said.
Jeffries similarly put the court on blast, calling it the “Trump court.”
