Louisiana governor: Discarding 45,000 votes ‘not a big’ deal and ‘not my fault’
Democracy Docket • • nation
Key Points:
- Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry defended suspending the state's primary election after 45,000 ballots were cast to redraw congressional maps, stating discarding those votes was "not a big deal."
- Landry described the situation as an "election emergency" following the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Callais v. Louisiana and suggested voters would cast ballots again in November.
- His comments were cited in a court filing by a Democrat challenging the suspended primaries, highlighting controversy over the decision's legality and voter impact.
- Landry supported Justice Samuel Alito's majority opinion in Callais, which weakened the Voting Rights Act by arguing institutional racism is no longer a significant issue, citing minority political successes as evidence.
- He dismissed claims of ongoing racism in Louisiana politics as a "failed narrative," emphasizing recent elections of Black Republican candidates and former President Barack Obama’s two terms.