The fate of Louisiana’s congressional map is up in the air again after a two-to-one ruling throws out the map lawmakers approved in January with a second majority-black district. Political Analyst Bernie Pinsonat describes the ruling as stunning and incredible.
“I don’t know if I can think of enough adjectives to describe the disruption that this will cause Louisiana in our elections this fall,” said Pinsonat.
The ruling was handed down after a federal lawsuit was filed on behalf of some Republicans on the grounds the January map was racial gerrymandering.
The Secretary of State’s Office has stated they needed a map in place by May 15th for the fall election. And with a constitutional convention possibly in the works to begin May 20th Pinsonat said there are several complications and multiple twists and turns in the map saga.
“That I can’t imagine how all this can take place in a timely fashion to allow us to elect a congressman by the end of this year. It is just utterly amazing that we’re now in this type of posture, with no end in sight in this controversary,” said Pinsonat.
State Attorney General Liz Murrill issued a statement that she’s still reviewing the ruling and the state plans to appeal the ruling to the State Supreme Court.
“So, all of the timing of all of this is incredibly bad for Louisiana to try to get all of this accomplished in such a short period of time, when all of the facets that we don’t even know if what we do, we still have no idea if the Supreme Court will approve any of this,” said Pinsonat.
Qualifying for the fall elections is mid-July.
