The political future for Baton Rouge Republican Garret Graves is cloudy after the Louisiana Legislature approved a new Congressional map that turns his district into a second Black-majority district. Political analyst Bernie Pinsonat says Graves has served in Congress since 2015 and his re-election chances for this year have taken a major hit.
“Garret Graves can still, but he’s certainly still at a big disadvantage,” said Pinsonat.
Graves’ current district includes the Baton Rouge capitol region, down the Mississippi River, and into Thibodaux, Houma, and Morgan City.
The new sixth Congressional district will stretch from Baton Rouge through Alexandria and Natchitoches and into Shreveport.
A federal judge ordered the Louisiana Legislature to draw a new map after it was determined the one approved in 2022 underrepresented the Black vote by not having two majority-minority districts. Pinsonat expects a lawsuit contesting this latest map.
“Interest groups are going to sue, they are going to say this gerrymandered, it’s illegal, it’s against the constitution,” said Pinsonat.
U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson is not happy the Louisiana Legislature drew a new map. He believes they should have demanded a federal trial on the map approved in 2022.
If the map drawn last week stays, there’s speculation former Congressman and current Democratic Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields will run for U-S Representative of the 6th district.
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