Morning Digest: Southern Republicans race to subjugate Black voters

Key Points:

• Southern Republican leaders are rapidly moving to dismantle majority-Black congressional districts following a Supreme Court ruling weakening the Voting Rights Act, causing election disruptions and legal challenges, with Louisiana, Alabama, and Tennessee leading efforts to redraw maps before upcoming primaries.
• In Kentucky, Donald Trump intervened in the GOP Senate primary by endorsing Rep. Andy Barr and persuading wealthy candidate Nate Morris to withdraw, reshaping the race to succeed retiring Sen. Mitch McConnell.
• Georgia’s Democratic gubernatorial candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms received a high-profile endorsement from former President Joe Biden ahead of the May 19 primary, where she leads but may face a runoff.
• Florida’s redistricting under Gov. Ron DeSantis has significantly altered several congressional districts, making some races more competitive, including Rep. Darren Soto’s 9th District and Rep. Laurel Lee’s 15th District, where a primary challenge has emerged.
• Former Rep. David Rivera was convicted for failing to register as a foreign agent for Venezuela’s government, marking a significant legal development for the ex-congressman amid past corruption allegations.