Gov. Edwards’ Statement on the Supreme Court’s Stay of Lower Court Ruling on Congressional Maps

Gov. John Bel Edwards today issued a statement regarding the U.S. Supreme Court's stay of the Middle District Court's ruling that Louisiana's congressional maps must be redrawn to include a second African-American district.

Gov. Edwards said:

"Today's ruling from the Supreme Court is more than a little disappointing. The District Court's well-reasoned 157 page decision clearly demonstrated that the maps passed by the legislature do not comply with Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. Black Louisianans make up one third of our population, and one third of our districts should be majority Black when such a map can be drawn, and, as has been clearly demonstrated, that map is more compact, better adheres to the legal principles governing redistricting, and will perform. As I have always maintained, it is about simple math, basic fairness, and the rule of law."