Supreme Court Strikes Down Louisiana Congressional Map

We the People

National Constitution Center

News, News Commentary, History

4.6 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 7 May 2026

⏱️ 63 minutes

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Summary

On April 29, 2026, in Louisiana v. Callais, the Supreme Court invalidated a Louisiana congressional map, holding that racial considerations cannot predominate in the drawing of electoral districts. The ruling narrowed Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 by requiring plaintiffs to show intentional discrimination, not just discriminatory effects. In this episode, we explore the Court’s 6-3 decision and what it means for the future of the Voting Rights Act with two leading election law scholars: Edward Foley of The Ohio State University and Michael Morley of Florida State University College of Law. Julie Silverbrook, chief content and learning officer at the National Constitution Center, moderates. Resources Edward Foley, “The Supreme Court’s indefensible evisceration of the Voting Rights Act,” SCOTUSblog, May 5, 2026 Michael Morley, “Voting Rights Case Sets Stage for 2050’s Multiracial Democracy,” Bloomberg Law, May 6, 2026 Louisiana v. Callais (2026) Allen v. Milligan (2023) Robinson v. Ardoin (2022) Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee (2021) Shelby County v. Holder (2013) Thornburg v. Gingles (1986) Voting Rights Act (1965) National Constitution Center, “The Supreme Court’s Callais decision sets new framework for racial gerrymandering” (April 30, 2026) National Constitution Center, Voting Rights Classroom Resources National Constitution Center, Elections and Voting in the Constitution (Constitution 101 Curriculum) Stay Connected and Learn More Questions or comments about the show? Email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@constitutioncenter.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Continue the conversation by following us on social media @ConstitutionCtr Explore the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠America at 250 Civic Toolkit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to receive Constitution Weekly, our email roundup of constitutional news and debate Subscribe, rate, and review wherever you listen Join us for an upcoming ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠live program⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or watch recordings on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Support our important work ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Donate

Transcript

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0:00.0	From the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, this is We the People.
0:07.6	I'm Julie Silverbrook, Chief Content and Learning Officer.
0:11.2	The National Constitution Center is a nonpartisan nonprofit, chartered by Congress to increase
0:15.8	awareness and understanding of the Constitution among the American people.
0:20.0	Last week, the Supreme Court struck down a Louisiana congressional map,
0:24.0	holding that it violated the Constitution's Equal Protection Clause
0:27.1	as an unconstitutional racial gerrymander.
0:30.3	In Louisiana v. Calais, the court said that the Voting Rights Act did not require
0:34.2	Louisiana to create an additional majority-minority district.
0:38.6	For decades, Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, or VRA, create an additional majority minority district. For decades,
0:43.7	Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, or VRA, has been central to how courts evaluate whether or not an electoral map dilutes the voting power of minority communities. In its six-three decision,
0:49.5	the court reframes how the VRA should be interpreted and updates the legal framework that will guide states moving
0:55.2	forward. In this episode, we'll explore the majority concurring and dissenting opinions and what
1:00.4	this ruling means for the future of the Voting Rights Act and congressional districting.
1:04.5	To help us unpack the court's ruling, we are joined by two leading election law scholars.
1:09.7	Edward Foley is a professor of law at the Ohio State
1:12.3	University, where he directs its election law program and is widely recognized as one of the
1:16.8	foremost experts on election law. He is the author of numerous articles in law reviews and two
1:22.0	books, including presidential elections, and majority rule and ballot battles, the history of disputed elections in the United
1:29.6	States. He also writes a monthly column, Justice, Democracy, and Law for SCOTUS blog. Ned, welcome
1:35.2	back to We the People. That's great to be back. Thank you. And Michael Morley is a professor of law at
1:40.6	Florida State University, where his research focuses on election emergencies,
	...

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