New Orleans Representative Mandie Landry was one of several lawmakers who testified in the congressional map trial that concluded today in Shreveport. The Democrat said she told the court there were two reasons why lawmakers were pressured to pass the map with two majority Black districts, the timeline issued by Federal Judge Shelly Dick.
“But also, the governor really wanted to tear up Congressman Graves’ district. And so that’s what I told the court and that’s what I experienced as a legislator,” said Landry.
A group of Republicans, which include Congressman Garett Graves, filed the lawsuit claiming the map violated the equal protection clause and is a case of racial gerrymandering.
As to why the governor wanted to alter Graves’s district, Representative Landry said she believes it’s because the two don’t see eye-to-eye and Graves backed another candidate in the governor’s race…
“I don’t know if it started before then, but certainly a lot of the animosity came from last year,” said Landry.
Despite the ongoing litigation Rep. Landry expects the map that passed in January will be the one used for the November election.
A ruling on the trial is expected in the next few days.
Republicans, Many Senator Alan Seabaugh and Shreveport Representative Thomas Pressly also testified
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