Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry on Thursday postponed his state's May 16 primaries for the House, one day after the Supreme Court struck down the state’s congressional map as an “unconstitutional racial gerrymander.” “Allowing elections to proceed under an unconstitutional map would undermine the integrity of our system and violate the rights of our voters,” the Republican governor said in a news release accompanying an executive order he signed prohibiting the state from conducting House elections under its current map. “This executive order ensures we uphold the rule of law while giving the Legislature the time it needs to pass a fair and lawful congressional map.” Primaries for other offices in Louisiana will go ahead on May 16, state officials said. President Donald Trump lauded Landry for “moving so quickly to fix the Unconstitutionality of Louisiana’s Congressional Maps.’’ The Supreme Court decision invalidating Louisiana’s congressional map limits the use of race in drawing congressional districts and could lead to further redistricting nationwide, especially in Southern states. In a 6-3 decision, the court’s conservative majority found that Louisiana should not have been forced to draw a congressional map with a second Black-majority district to comply with the Voting Rights Act. Democrats denounced the decision to postpone the House primaries, saying changing the rules this close to the election – early voting was set to start Saturday – would create chaos and disenfranchise voters. “Louisianans have already cast absentee ballots, early voting was set to begin this weekend, and now those votes won't count. That is unacceptable,” Rep. Cleo Fields, whose Black-majority district was at the heart of the Supreme Court case, said on social media. Rep. Troy Carter, the other Democrat in the Louisiana delegation, said voters shouldn’t be “left in confusion or denied fair representation at a critical moment.” “Our soldiers at war, the elderly, and anyone who requires accommodations to vote will face irreparable harm if we change course midstream,” he said on social media. Louisiana Republicans are currently hosting a competitive primary for the 5th District, which incumbent Julia Letlow is vacating to run for Senate. But a new Republican-drawn map would likely create new opportunities for some of the candidates should Fields’ seat be dismantled. The state’s highest-profile primary, though, is poised to go ahead on May 16. Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy is in the fight of his political career, drawing challenges from Letlow, who has Trump’s endorsement, and state Treasurer John Fleming, among others. “The governor’s decision to move ahead with the Senate race during a confusing time is disappointing,” Cassidy said on social media Thursday. Michael Macagnone contributed to this report.
