It's 2026, and if you're looking at a congressional district map Louisiana uses today, you're looking at a piece of paper that has survived more legal fire than almost any other boundary in the country. Politics here is never just about lines. It's about power, survival, and a "backslash" across the state that changed everything.
You’ve probably heard the term "gerrymandering" tossed around like a hot potato in New Orleans or Baton Rouge. But in Louisiana, the current map isn't just some backroom deal—it’s the result of a high-stakes chess match between federal judges, the U.S. Supreme Court, and a state legislature that was basically forced to change its mind.
The Map That Shouldn't Have Been
For years, Louisiana had one majority-Black district (the 2nd) and five majority-white districts. This was despite the fact that about one-third of the state’s population is Black. Simple math suggests that if you have six seats and 33% of the people are Black, they should probably have a say in two of those seats.
The 2022 map didn't do that. It stuck to the old "1-in-6" rule.
Naturally, people sued. The case, Robinson v. Ardoin, argued that the state was diluting the power of Black voters in violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. Federal courts agreed. They told Louisiana: "Fix it, or we will."
Enter the "Backslash" District
In early 2024, things got weird. Under pressure from the courts, the Louisiana Legislature met in a special session. They passed Senate Bill 8 (SB 8), which created a second majority-Black district.
This new 6th District is what people call the "backslash." It starts up in Caddo Parish (Shreveport), cuts diagonally through the heart of the state, and ends in East Baton Rouge Parish. It’s over 200 miles long. It’s narrow. It’s controversial.
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Why draw it like that?
Honestly, it was a "rescue operation." Governor Jeff Landry and Republican leaders wanted to protect two specific people: Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and Representative Julia Letlow. To keep their districts safe and Republican, the mapmakers had to find Black voters elsewhere. They carved them out of the old 6th District—which used to belong to Garret Graves—and linked them together in a long, thin line.
Garret Graves was the "sacrificial lamb." His district went from being a safe Republican seat to a majority-Black seat that Cleo Fields, a Democrat, won in 2024.
The 2026 Reality: Why the Map Stayed
Here we are in 2026, and the map hasn't changed. Why? Because the U.S. Supreme Court decided to take its time.
After the "backslash" map was created, a group of "non-African American" voters sued, saying the map was a racial gerrymander that violated the 14th Amendment. They argued race was the only reason the map looked so funky. This case, Landry v. Callais, went all the way up.
The Supreme Court was supposed to rule by late 2025. They didn't. They kicked the can down the road, ordering more arguments for the 2025-26 term. Because they didn't rule by the end of 2025, Louisiana is stuck with the 2024 map for the 2026 midterm elections.
What the Districts Look Like Right Now
If you're voting in 2026, here’s the breakdown of the congressional district map Louisiana currently enforces:
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- 1st District: Steve Scalise’s home turf. It covers the New Orleans suburbs and the Northshore. It’s still deeply red.
- 2nd District: Troy Carter’s district. It’s the "classic" majority-Black district, snaking from New Orleans into Baton Rouge along the river.
- 3rd District: Clay Higgins territory. Southwest Louisiana, including Lafayette and Lake Charles.
- 4th District: This is Speaker Mike Johnson’s seat. It’s the northwest corner, minus the parts of Shreveport that got sucked into the new 6th.
- 5th District: Julia Letlow’s rural northeast/central Louisiana seat. It actually got a little bit "whiter" and more Republican to protect her.
- 6th District: The newcomer. Represented by Cleo Fields. It links the Black communities of Shreveport, Alexandria, Lafayette, and Baton Rouge.
The Controversy: Race vs. Politics
The big debate in the courtrooms right now is whether you can use race to fix a problem caused by race.
Critics say the 6th District is an eyesore. They say it ignores "communities of interest" (people who live near each other and share the same concerns) just to hit a racial percentage.
Supporters say, "Look at the results." For the first time in modern history, Louisiana has two Black representatives in Congress. They argue that without the "backslash," Black voters would be "cracked" (split up) across multiple districts where they’d have zero chance of electing someone who represents them.
What Happens Next?
The Supreme Court’s decision, expected in late spring or summer of 2026, will be a bombshell.
If they strike down the map, the 2026 elections might be the last time we see this version. The legislature would have to go back to the drawing board—again. If they uphold it, this "backslash" style of mapmaking might become the new standard for states trying to balance the Voting Rights Act with partisan protection.
Louisiana is basically the "guinea pig" for the rest of the country. Whatever the Justices decide here will tell every other state how much they can—or can't—use race when drawing lines.
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Actionable Insights for Louisianians
You don't need a law degree to navigate this, but you do need to be proactive.
1. Check your registration early. Because the 6th District moved so many people around, you might not be in the district you were in four years ago. The shift of LSU and parts of Baton Rouge into the 5th District caught a lot of people off guard. Use the Secretary of State's "GeauxVote" app to verify your current district.
2. Watch the February Qualifying Period.
Since Louisiana moved to a closed primary system for 2026, the qualifying dates are earlier (Feb 11-13). This is when you'll see exactly who is challenging the incumbents under these "temporary" lines.
3. Follow the Supreme Court's "Orders List."
Keep an eye on the Landry v. Callais docket. A ruling in June could mean the 2028 map looks entirely different, even if the 2026 map is settled.
The map is more than just a drawing on a wall; it’s the blueprint for who gets a seat at the table in D.C. Whether you love the "backslash" or hate it, it’s the law of the land for now.