Despite strong opposition from Black lawmakers, the House Governmental Affairs Committee approved a Congressional map with one majority-minority district. West Monroe Senator Jay Morris’ measure would most likely result in five Republicans and one Democrat representing Louisiana in the U.S. House of Representatives, upsetting Black lawmakers who want two majority-minority districts.
“The map is not drawn to try to get somebody of a particular race to win, but you’ll have an equal opportunity to vote for whoever you want, Republican or Democrat, white or Black,” Morris explained.
Morris says the Supreme Court said in its ruling that struck down the current congressional map that race should not be the primary factor in drawing district lines, but partisanship can be a factor.
Baton Rouge Senator Denise Marcelle asked Morris why Republicans should determine who represents the state in Congress, when only a third of the voters are registered Republican.
Marcelle: “Why do you believe 36% should have either all of the representation, or 83%?”
Morris: “I think it would bode well for the country and the state to have more Republicans in congress.”
If the map approved by House Governmental Affairs becomes law, the state will go from having a 4-2 map to a 5-1 map. Marcelle says having a congressional map where a Democrat can win only one of the six districts is unfair, considering a third of the state’s population is Black.
“The fact that you have half or double the seats, and want more of the seats, it’s just incredibly egregious to me,” Marcelle said.
New Orleans Representative Delisha Boyd accused Morris of promoting a map that would assure that five white Republicans make up six of the state’s U.S. House members.
“Somehow, somewhere, we have equated racial gerrymandering with being African American. And so we’re overlooking the fact that we’re still going into racially gerrymandered districts, except they’re white Republicans,” Boyd said.
The map was amended during committee discussion that changes some of the political boundaries; so if it’s approved by the full House, the measure will go back to the State Senate for approval of House changes.
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