Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry plans to push back the state's May 16 primary to give state lawmakers time to redraw congressional maps after the Supreme Court ruled the 2024 Louisiana congressional redistricting map unconstitutional. Landry called congressional Republicans to inform them of the plan to delay the primary.

Landry and state Attorney General Liz Murrill issued a joint statement saying the state could not move forward with its current congressional maps. "We are working together with the Legislature and the Secretary of State's office to develop a path forward," the joint statement said. Absentee voting for the May 16 primary is already underway in Louisiana, and early voting is scheduled to start this weekend.

The Supreme Court's ruling said Louisiana's congressional district lines were an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. The ruling limited provisions of the Voting Rights Act that had been used to guarantee the creation of majority-minority districts. Those provisions allowed voters of color in majority-minority districts to elect candidates of their choice. Previously, the Voting Rights Act had been construed to allow consideration of voters' race when drawing electoral districts.

"Allowing race to play any part in government decision-making represents a departure from the constitutional rule that applies in almost any other context," Associate Justice Samuel Alito wrote in his majority opinion.

Republican lawmakers plan to redraw congressional district lines to eliminate at least one of Louisiana's two Democratic-held districts, starting with the district held by Rep. Cleo Fields. That district was at the center of the court challenge. Rep. Troy Carter is the only other Democrat in Louisiana's congressional delegation and represents much of New Orleans and communities to its west.