In a controversial move, Louisiana Republicans recently chose to delay the state’s congressional primaries following a pivotal U.S. Supreme Court decision. The ruling, which was passed with a 6-3 vote, effectively removed Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. This action hindered the establishment of a Black-majority congressional district in Louisiana, leading to the dismissal of approximately 45,000 ballots that had already been submitted.
Louisiana’s Republican Governor, Jeff Landry, has responded to this decision in a manner that some citizens, particularly Black residents, find dismissive. In a recent interview with CBS’ 60 Minutes, Landry was questioned by reporter Cecilia Vega regarding the fate of the votes already cast in the primaries.
“Oh, those ballots are discarded and, and those voters will vote again in November,” Landry replied.
“You say that like it’s not a big deal,” Vega then remarked.
“Well, it’s not a big de– it’s not my fault,” Landry said. “If anybody has a grievance, take it to the United States Supreme Court.”
Critics argue that the Supreme Court’s decision did not necessitate the postponement of the primaries. Democratic state Rep. Kyle Green pointed out, “The Court’s decision does not halt the election process on its own, and any attempt to suspend or disrupt an ongoing election at this stage would raise serious constitutional concerns.”
In response to the GOP’s actions, Democratic state Sen. Royce Duplessis expressed concerns about voter confusion, stating, “This is going to cause mass confusion among voters — Democrats, Republicans, white, Black, everybody. What they’re effectively doing is changing the rules of the game in the middle of the game. It’s rigging the system.”
Despite these criticisms, Landry remains unfazed, downplaying the significance of 45,000 early votes being discarded. He argues that the Supreme Court ruling, which deemed a majority-Black district unconstitutional, represents a “colorblind” approach to gerrymandering.
Landry further elaborated on his stance, stating, “You cannot say that we are all created equal…and then allow a law to sort people based upon race.” However, this perspective has been met with skepticism, given the historical context of racial discrimination in the U.S.
Justice Samuel Alito, in his majority opinion for the Callais case, dismantled a significant part of the Voting Rights Act, suggesting that institutional racism is a relic of the past. Landry concurred with this viewpoint, citing the election of President Barack Obama as evidence of a post-racial America. He remarked, “I mean, think about it. Barack Obama was elected twice as the United States president… I mean, are we really trying to drug [sic] up the past only to continue a failed narrative?”
Despite Landry’s claims, critics highlight that no Black candidate has won statewide office in Louisiana since Reconstruction, and the only Black congressmen from the state were elected from majority-Black districts established under the Voting Rights Act.
For more insights and background, related articles on this topic can be found here:
- Louisiana Republicans Postpone Primary Elections Following SCOTUS Decision
- From George Floyd to Jacques Beauregard: America’s Racist Rebound
- Louisiana GOP Passes Bill Eliminating Calvin Duncan’s Office
- Louisiana GOP Wants To Pass Bill Preventing Calvin Duncan From Taking Office
