Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry suspended the state’s congressional primary elections scheduled for March 16, citing ongoing federal court litigation that requires the state to redraw its congressional map to include a second majority-Black district.
The Republican governor announced the suspension in a written statement Monday, saying the state cannot proceed with elections under a map that federal courts have deemed likely violates the Voting Rights Act. “We must ensure our elections are conducted under legally compliant district boundaries,” Landry said.
The suspension affects only the six U.S. House races. Other contests on the March ballot, including state legislative seats and local races, will proceed as scheduled.
Early voting for the suspended congressional primaries had been set to begin March 2. Landry’s order pushes the House primaries to May 4, with a runoff scheduled for June 8 if needed.
The action stems from a protracted legal battle over Louisiana’s congressional districts. In January, a three-judge federal panel in the Middle District of Louisiana ordered the state to redraw its congressional map to create a second district where Black voters comprise a majority or near-majority of the voting-age population.
Currently, Louisiana has only one majority-Black congressional district—the 2nd District, which includes much of New Orleans and is represented by Democratic Rep. Troy Carter. The federal court ruled this configuration likely violates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which prohibits voting practices that discriminate based on race.
The ruling followed a lawsuit filed by civil rights groups, including the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and the American Civil Liberties Union, who argued Louisiana’s map illegally diluted Black voting power. Black residents comprise about one-third of Louisiana’s population but were positioned to elect their preferred candidates in only one of six congressional districts.
“This is about ensuring fair representation for all Louisiana voters,” said Tracie Washington, an attorney representing the plaintiffs. “The current map splits Black communities and diminishes their political voice.”
State officials had appealed the district court’s ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court, seeking to halt the redistricting requirement. However, the high court has not yet acted on Louisiana’s emergency appeal, leaving the lower court order in effect.
The legal timeline has created practical challenges for election administration. Louisiana Secretary of State Nancy Landry (no relation to the governor) said her office had already begun printing ballots and preparing voting equipment for the March primaries.
“The suspension, while necessary given the court order, creates significant logistical challenges,” she said in a statement. “We are working to minimize disruption to voters and candidates.”
The delay affects several competitive races. In the 5th District, covering northeast and central Louisiana, Republican Rep. Julia Letlow faces a primary challenge. The 6th District, currently held by Republican Rep. Garret Graves, was expected to see multiple candidates after Graves announced he would not seek reelection.
Political observers say the redistricting battle reflects broader national tensions over voting rights and representation. Louisiana’s case is among several across the country where federal courts have ordered states to create additional majority-minority districts.
“This highlights the ongoing struggle over the Voting Rights Act and what it requires,” said Pearson Cross, a political scientist at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. “Louisiana is caught between federal court mandates and state political preferences.”
The redistricting process will likely fall to the Republican-controlled Louisiana Legislature, which must convene in special session to draw new maps. However, any new configuration must satisfy the federal court’s requirements or face additional legal challenges.
Democratic leaders criticized Landry’s handling of the situation, arguing the state should have acted sooner to comply with voting rights law. “This suspension could have been avoided if state leaders had prioritized fair representation from the start,” said state Democratic Party Chair Katie Bernhardt.
Republican legislative leaders defended the delay, saying they need time to craft districts that comply with the court order while maintaining other legal requirements, including keeping districts compact and preserving communities of interest.
The suspension adds uncertainty to Louisiana’s congressional delegation ahead of the November general election. Republicans currently hold five of the state’s six House seats, but a second majority-Black district could shift that balance.
Voting rights advocates expressed cautious optimism that the court-ordered redistricting would lead to fairer representation. “While the delay is unfortunate, it’s necessary to ensure Louisiana voters have districts that comply with federal law,” said Mike Hasten, state director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana.
The Louisiana redistricting case reflects similar battles nationwide as courts increasingly scrutinize maps that may dilute minority voting power. The outcome could influence how other states approach redistricting and voting rights compliance.
Landry said his administration would work with legislative leaders to complete the redistricting process “as expeditiously as possible” to minimize election delays. The new timeline gives lawmakers approximately six weeks to draw and approve new congressional boundaries before the rescheduled May primary.