Supreme Court rules on key Voting Rights Act rule as Republicans and Democrats wage redistricting war

The Supreme Court on Wednesday limited the scope of a key Voting Rights Act provision that restricts how states draw districts affecting minority voters, constraining states' use of race as a factor when drawing congressional maps ahead of the 2026 midterms.

Justices for the 6-3 majority ruled that Louisiana's newly redrawn congressional map, which created a second majority-Black district, constituted an "illegal" racial gerrymander.

Though the justices acknowledged that compliance with the Voting Rights Act can be a compelling interest for states, they ruled that it did not require Louisiana to create the new map with a second, majority Black district.