SCOTUS narrows Voting Rights Act, sparking a wave of redistricting battles

The Supreme Court’s 6-3 Louisiana v. Callais decision narrows Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act by requiring proof of intentional discrimination to strike down discriminatory maps, triggering new mid-decade redistricting fights in Louisiana, Alabama, Tennessee and beyond. Critics warn the ruling could dramatically reduce Black representation and rollback multiracial democracy, while supporters argue it reflects a normalized political process; advocates urge renewed organizing and reforms to protect voting rights as states redraw maps for 2026.