Nationwide, Redistricting has been completed for:
- 369 of the 435 U.S. House Seats (84.8%)
- 1,741 of 1,972 State Senate Seats (88.3%)
- 4,130 of 5,411 State House Seats (76.3%)
The latest State to enact Legislative Maps is Louisiana, which did so on March 14. Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) Vetoed the Legislature’s proposed Congressional District Map on March 9. Here’s what happened.
Congressional Districts
Edwards said part of the reason why he Vetoed the Congressional Remap, was because it “does not include a second majority African American district, despite Black voters making up almost a third of Louisianans per the latest U.S. Census data. This map is simply not fair to the people of Louisiana and does not meet the standards set forth in the federal Voting Rights Act.”
The Legislature Approved the New Map on Feb. 18. The Congressional Redistricting Bill passed the State Senate, 27-10, strictly along Party Lines. The State House of Representatives Approved it 64-31, with 61 Republicans, Two Independents, and One Democrat, Voting in Favor and 27 Democrats, Three Republicans, and One Independent Voting against.
According to The Advocate’s Blake Paterson, “Republicans passed…maps…that would maintain the status quo of a single majority-Black district and would all but guarantee Louisiana sends five Republicans and one Democrat to the U.S. House of Representatives in the congressional midterms this fall.”
Edwards is the Sixth Governor, all in States with Divided Governments, to Veto at least One Redistricting Map. Legislators Overrode these Vetoes in Three States: Kansas, Kentucky, and Maryland, and Courts assumed Control of the Process in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
Louisiana is One of Six States including: Florida, Louisiana, Missouri, New Hampshire, Ohio, and South Carolina, that have Not completed Congressional Redistricting.
Legislative Districts
The State enacted, New State Legislative District boundaries on March 14, when Edwards allowed Senate Bill 1, detailing the New State Senate Boundaries, and House Bill 14, detailing the New State House Boundaries, to take effect without his Signature. Louisiana holds regular State Executive and Legislative Elections in Odd-numbered years, so these Maps take effect for the 2023 Elections.
Edwards said, “While neither the congressional or legislative maps passed by Louisiana’s Legislature do anything to increase the number of districts where minority voters can elect candidates of their choosing, I do not believe the Legislature has the ability to draw new state House and Senate maps during this upcoming legislative session without the process halting the important work of the state of Louisiana. At a time when we face unprecedented challenges, but have unprecedented opportunities to make historic investments in our future, the Legislature should be focused on the issues in the upcoming session and not concerned about what their own districts will look like in the 2023 elections.”
On Feb. 18, the Legislative Redistricting Plan passed the State Senate, 25-11, with All Republicans Voting for it, and 10 Democrats and One Republican Voting against.
The State House of Representatives Approved the Plan 82-2, with 68 Republicans, 12 Democrats, and Two Independents Voting in favor, and 20 Democrats and One Independent Voting against.
Louisiana is the Second State in this Redistricting cycle, where Maps have become Law without the Governor Signing or Vetoing them.
Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) took No Action, that State’s Congressional Map, due to concerns with the Legislature’s Division of Pulaski County, the State’s most Populous County, between Three U.S. House Districts. Arkansas’ Congressional Districts became Law on Jan. 14, 90 days after the Legislature Passed them.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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