Louisiana’s congressional primaries are being thrown into limbo after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a majority-Black congressional district, forcing state officials to halt the upcoming elections just days before early voting was set to begin.
Gov. Jeff Landry and Attorney General Liz Murrill said Thursday the ruling blocks the state from moving forward under its current map. Early voting had been scheduled to kick off Saturday ahead of the May 16 primary.
“The State is currently enjoined from carrying out congressional elections under the current map,” Landry and Murrill said in a joint statement. “We are working together with the Legislature and the Secretary of State’s office to develop a path forward.”
The abrupt decision leaves election officials scrambling to redraw district lines or delay the process entirely, injecting fresh uncertainty into the 2026 midterm cycle.
In a longer statement, the two officials pointed to the immediate legal fallout from the high court’s ruling.
“Yesterday’s historic Supreme Court victory for Louisiana has an immediate consequence for the State. The Supreme Court previously stayed an injunction against the State’s enforcement of the current Congressional map. By the Court’s order, however, that stay automatically terminated with yesterday’s decision. Accordingly, the State is currently enjoined from carrying out congressional elections under the current map. We are working together with the Legislature and the Secretary of State’s office to develop a path forward.”
The ripple effects are already being felt beyond Louisiana.
In Georgia, Republican lawmakers have signaled they may explore redrawing their own congressional lines following the ruling, suggesting the fight over district maps is far from settled.
Meanwhile, Alabama remains tied up in its own redistricting battle. Courts there have already delayed any major changes, and officials have indicated a new map is unlikely to be finalized before the 2026 election cycle. Gov. Kay Ivey has acknowledged the legal gridlock, with the state continuing to operate under maps that have faced repeated challenges.
The Supreme Court’s move is expected to fuel more legal fights nationwide as both parties look to gain an edge ahead of a high-stakes midterm election. For now, Louisiana voters are left waiting as state leaders race to figure out what comes next.
