Louisiana Republican Gov. Jeff Landry speaks throughout the begin of a particular legislative session on Jan. 15 in Baton Rouge, La. Landry referred to as the session so lawmakers may adjust to a courtroom order and create a brand new congressional map.

Michael Johnson/The Advocate through AP/Pool

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Michael Johnson/The Advocate through AP/Pool

Louisiana Republican Gov. Jeff Landry speaks throughout the begin of a particular legislative session on Jan. 15 in Baton Rouge, La. Landry referred to as the session so lawmakers may adjust to a courtroom order and create a brand new congressional map.

Michael Johnson/The Advocate through AP/Pool

BATON ROUGE, La. — Louisiana has a brand new congressional map, with a second majority-Black district, after Republican Gov. Jeff Landry signed it into legislation on Monday.

The new map is a win for Black voters and certain brings an finish to the state’s long-running authorized battle over redistricting. It may additionally see Democrats achieve one other seat in Congress.

Redistricting the map was the main focus of a week-long special session referred to as by Landry on his first day in workplace. A federal courtroom had given Louisiana’s legislature till Jan. 30 to redraw its map in compliance with the federal Voting Rights Act, forcing lawmakers so as to add a second majority-Black district.

Louisiana’s earlier map was one in all a number of throughout the nation that had been challenged in courtroom for allegedly diluting Black voting energy, resulting in a political battle over the districts that has lasted for nearly two years.

A federal choose might want to log off on Louisiana’s new map.

In an handle to lawmakers firstly of the particular session, Landry urged them to place an finish to that battle and move a congressional map with two majority-Black districts.

“These maps will satisfy the court and ensure that the congressional districts of our state are made right here in this legislature and not by some heavy-handed federal judge,” he mentioned.

In 2022, Louisiana lawmakers handed a map with one majority-Black district out of six, despite the fact that Black residents make up a few third of the state’s inhabitants.

A gaggle of Black voters, involved the map didn’t provide Black Louisianans truthful illustration, challenged the map in courtroom.

Landry, who was then Louisiana’s lawyer basic, tried to finish that litigation and protect the 2022 map. But as governor, firstly of final week’s particular session, he mentioned the state had “exhausted all legal remedies” and would want to attract a second majority-Black district.

“Once and for all, I think it’s time that we put this to bed,” he mentioned.

Under the new map, Louisiana’s 2nd District, which encompasses a lot of New Orleans and surrounding areas, can have a Black inhabitants of about 53%. Democratic U.S. Rep. Troy Carter represents that district, which has been Louisiana’s solely majority-Black district for a number of years.

Louisiana’s sixth District now stretches from components of Shreveport to Baton Rouge and can have a Black inhabitants of about 56%. Republican Garret Graves, an ally of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, represents the sixth and dangers dropping his seat underneath the brand new map, which Landry supported over different variations.

Other proposals for a brand new congressional map, which have been most well-liked by Black voting rights activists, would have impacted the fifth District, which covers northeastern and components of central Louisiana. That seat is held by Republican Rep. Julia Letlow. Several Republican lawmakers mentioned they wished to guard Letlow’s seat as a result of she is Louisiana’s solely feminine consultant in Congress and serves on the highly effective House Appropriations Committee.

Lawmakers have been additionally positive to guard the seats of House Speaker Mike Johnson and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise.

The developments in Louisiana echo a latest struggle in Alabama, the place a panel of federal judges in October picked a map for that state’s 2024 elections that features a second district that will increase Black political energy.

Given racial polarization in voting, Democrats are prone to profit from the brand new seats in Alabama and Louisiana.