The topic of gerrymandering is back in front of the Supreme Court today.
Fair maps are on the line in Louisiana v. Callais, where extremists are challenging an electoral map that has finally led to fair congressional representation for Black Louisianans. The court’s ruling will not only determine the future of Louisiana’s Voting Rights Act-compliant congressional map, but could also impact fair maps in Alabama and Georgia, and the future of the Voting Rights Act at large.
As a key member of the NDRC community, you need to see this memo from our executive director outlining what we’re up against and our path to fighting back. If you don’t have time to read the full memo right now but would still like to support the NDRC’s critical work, you can do so by clicking here: [[link removed]]
From: Marina Jenkins, Executive Director, National Democratic Redistricting Committee
To: Interested Parties
Date: February 2025
Subject: Republicans are Targeting Voting Rights Act to Gerrymander Ahead of 2026 Midterms
Republicans are aiming to use the courts to erase Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act (VRA), a critical safeguard for fair maps, as part of a larger strategy to gerrymander the congressional map ahead of the 2026 midterms.
Litigation Challenging VRA-Compliant Maps Could Tip 2026 House Majority
Three lawsuits in states across the South could tip control of Congress in 2026. In each of these lawsuits, Republicans are arguing for the reversal of newly VRA-compliant maps that resulted from the enforcement of the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark 2023 decision in Allen v. Milligan, which upheld Section 2 of the VRA.
These three lawsuits alone could determine whether or not the national congressional map remains the fairest map we have seen in decades or reverts to a gerrymander by dismantling at least three Black opportunity districts — potentially more than the current House majority. Here’s where Republicans are aiming to dismantle VRA-compliant maps:
Georgia (Pendergrass v. Raffensperger): As a result of success in court, Georgians won a new Black opportunity district in their congressional map. But, Republicans have appealed the court decision enforcing those maps, and are attempting to dismantle that new district. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit held oral argument in the case on January 23, 2025, and a decision is expected by summer.
Alabama (Caster v. Allen): The Alabama congressional map now includes two Black opportunity districts, and that map allowed Alabama voters to elect two Black Members of Congress for the first time in history in the 2024 election. But Republicans are aiming to eliminate the new Black opportunity district in court which could lead Alabama to again have just one Black opportunity district. A two-week-long trial began on February 10, 2025, before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama.
Louisiana (Robinson v. Callais): Louisiana’s congressional map now includes two Black opportunity districts, and that map allowed Louisiana voters to elect two Black Members of Congress for the first time in nearly 30 years. However, a challenge was brought against the map in an effort to not only dismantle the state’s new Black opportunity district, but also to potentially undermine Section 2 of the VRA, which would have significant implications nationwide. The oral argument in the case is set to take place before the U.S. Supreme Court on March 24, 2025.
Conclusion
Gerrymandering has remained central to Republicans’ long-term political strategy. Their goal is to revert the current congressional map — a map that will allow both parties to compete for the House majority for the rest of the decade — to one that ensures a durable Republican majority for years to come.
Dismantling Section 2 of the VRA would give Republicans further free reign to gerrymander without accountability. This builds on Republican tactics leading up to the 2024 election, when Republicans enacted an egregious partisan gerrymander in North Carolina, changing the 50-50 state’s fair 7-7 congressional map to a 10-4 gerrymander. That gerrymander ensured Republicans could pick up three additional seats leading up to the 2024 election, delivering Republicans a three-seat majority in the House.
What transpired in North Carolina was another step in the Republican playbook to revert the national congressional map into a durable gerrymander that guarantees one-party rule — and they are kicking off this year in pursuit of the next step in that playbook. This underscores the need to protect the progress that has been made to ensure equal representation.
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Thank you,
Team NDRC
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