...
By Alex J. Rouhandeh
National Political Correspondent
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
Nineteen Democratic-held Congressional districts could fall into Republican hands and keep the House under GOP control depending on the results of a landmark case being reargued before the Supreme Court on Wednesday.
The question being deliberated in Louisiana v. Callais centers on whether Louisiana’s “intentional creation of a second majority-minority congressional district violates the Fourteenth or Fifteenth Amendments.” The Fourteenth Amendment grants birthright citizenship and equal treatment under the law while the Fifteenth states the right to vote cannot be denied on the basis of race.
Louisiana’s congressional map was redrawn to include a second Black-majority district after lawsuits were filed arguing the then current map violated Section 2 the Voting Rights Act (VRA) by diluting the voting power of Black Americans. Phillip Callais and a group of non-Black voters opposed this measure, arguing it was an unconstitutional racial gerrymander. The case will now prove significant in determining whether legislatures must abide by Section 2 of the VRA, which prevents gerrymandering that dilutes minority voting power.
Read More on Politics
...
While it’s uncertain how the justices may rule, Democrats are worried the court’s current 6-3 conservative majority could back Callais’ argument. If that happens, a report by the political nonprofits Fair Fight Action and Black Voters Matter Fund warn that 19 Democratic-held seats protected under the VRA could be redrawn to favor Republicans.
Former Attorney General Eric Holder, chair of the National Democratic Redistricting Council (NDRC), defended the VRA in an October 8 press call, stating prior decisions by the court have helped support voting rights in states where voters of color had previously been disenfranchised.
“Central to each of these cases, as well as the manufactured gerrymandering crisis, is a fundamental question about who the politicians in this country answer to and who they represent,” he said. “In just the last two years, [Voting Rights Act] enforcement has dismantled racially discriminatory maps in a bunch of states, including Alabama, as well as in Louisiana, and it’s given Black voters in those states equal representation that had been denied to them for far too long.”
President Donald Trump has made clear that he aims to maintain GOP control of the House in the 2026 midterms and is willing to pressure state officials to conduct out-of-cycle redistricting efforts to support that goal.
These are the districts that could be redrawn should the Supreme Court roll back Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.
...
Alabama's 2nd Congressional District
Comprised of the city of Mobile and most of the Montgomery metropolitan area, the 2nd district is represented by Shomari Figures, a former attorney who campaigned for former President Barack Obama and served as deputy chief of staff to former Attorney General Merrick Garland. At nearly 50 percent of the district’s estimated 703,362 population, Black residents make up a plurality of the district, followed by white residents at nearly 41 percent. The district has been represented by a Democrat since January of this year, after it was redrawn in 2024.
Alabama’s 7th Congressional District
This district encompasses portions of the Birmingham, Montgomery and Tuscaloosa urban areas, as well as the entirety of Selma. Representative Terri Sewell has represented the 7th since 2011. Of the district’s estimated 718,912 resident, over 51 percent are Black while nearly 39 percent are white. The district has not been represented by a Republican since 1967.
Two Georgia Congressional Districts
Two congressional districts in the swing state of Georgia could be eliminated, according to the report. It’s not immediately clear which ones would be the targets. However, the majority-minority districts in the state include the 2nd Congressional District represented by Sanford Bishop, the 4th Congressional District represented by Hank Johnson, the 5th Congressional District represented by Nikema Williams, the 6th Congressional District represented by Lucy McBath, and the 13th Congressional District represented by David Scott.
Louisiana’s 2nd Congressional District
This district contains nearly all the city of New Orleans and extends north toward Baton Rouge. While it’s currently safely Democratic, the 2nd could become an electoral battleground through redistricting. The area has been represented by Troy Carter since 2021, who previously served as minority leader of the Louisiana State Senate following tenures as an elected official in the New Orleans City Council and the Louisiana House of Representatives. Of the district’s estimated 736,254 people, almost 50 percent are Black while 33 percent are white. A Republican last served the 2nd in 2011.
Louisiana’s 6th Congressional District
The district at the heart of this Supreme Court fight, the newly drawn 6th district stretches from the state’s northwest corner at Shreveport down to its southwest corner, ending near Baton Rouge. Cleo Fields represents the district after previously representing the 4th Congressional District from 1993 to 1997. About 52 percent of the district’s estimated 753,643 residents are Black, and nearly 36 percent are white. It was represented by a Republican as recently as January of this year.
Mississippi’s 2nd Congressional District
Despite being the state with the largest Black population, Mississippi could lose its one majority Black district, which spans across most the western portion of the state. Of the 2nd district’s estimated 694,703 people, nearly 64 percent are Black, while 31 percent are white. The area is represented by Bennie Thompson, the top Democrat on the Homeland Security Committee and former chair of the January 6th Committee. He’s served the 6th since 1993, and a Republican last represented the area in 1987.
North Carolina’s 12th Congressional District
According to the report, redistricting in North Carolina would result in the battleground state becoming safely GOP for the midterms. The district that could be targeted here is the 12th which comprises most of Charlotte. Alma Adams — a former college administrator and statehouse member — represents the 12th's estimated 801,527 people, 292,161 of whom are Black and 291,919 of whom are White. A Republican has never represented this district — the last non-Democrat to represent the district was a member of the Whig party who served in 1843.
South Carolina’s 6th Congressional District
Like Mississippi, South Carolina could see its singular majority-Black district eliminated. This district also happens to be represented by a highly influential member of Congress in Jim Clyburn, who has held the seat since 1993 and served as Majority Whip, leading House Democrats alongside Nancy Pelosi. This district spans the southeastern portion of the state and has an estimated population of 762,934. Forty-four percent of its population is Black, and 43 percent are white. A Republican last represented the district in 1983.
Tennessee’s 9th Congressional District
The single majority minority district in Tennessee covers most of Memphis and has an estimated population of 749,932, which is 61 percent Black and about 25 percent white. Tennessee's 9th is currently represented by Steve Cohen, who is white and used to serve in the state Senate. A Republican last represented the district in 1973.
Four to Five Texas Congressional Districts
The report notes that Texas’ redistricting effort earlier this year already lowered the number of safe Democratic districts from 11 to eight. It warns that if the Voting Rights Act is further rolled back, that number could fall to just three or four safe districts. It’s not clear which districts could be affected. However, the current majority-minority districts in the state represented by Democrats include the 9th district represented by Al Green, the 16th district represented by Veronica Escobar, the 20th district represented by Joaquin Castro, the 28th district Represented by Henry Cuellar, the 29th district represented by Sylvia Garcia, 30th district represented by Jasmine Crockett, the 33rd district represented by Marc Veasey, the 34th district represented by Vicente Gonzalez, and the 35th district represented by Greg Casar.
Three Florida Congressional Districts
Florida has three Congressional districts that could be impacted, according to the report, lowering the number of safe Democratic seats from eight to five. The Democratic-held majority-minority districts in the state include the 9th district represented by Darren Soto, the 20th district represented by Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, the 24th district represented by Frederica Wilson and the 25th district represented by Debbie Wasserman-Schultz.
Missouri’s 1st Congressional District
The report notes that Missouri has already moved to eliminate one Democratic district, lowering the state’s number of safe blue seats from two to one. If the Voting Rights Act is scaled back, the single district could become a battleground. The 1st district has a population of 742,814 residents, 43 percent of whom are Black and 42 percent of whom are white. Wesley Bell represents the St. Louis-area district and comes from a line of Democrats who have represented the area since 1949.
Demographic data for this story was gathered from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Correction 10/15/25 at 11:30 a.m. ET: This article has been corrected to describe Eric Holder as chair of the National Democratic Redistricting Council (NDRC) not the National Redistricting Foundation (NRF).
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines