The Red State Scramble to Gerrymander Away Black Electoral Power Has Been More Blatant Than You’d Expect

Key Points:

• Following the Supreme Court ruling in Louisiana v. Callais that struck down a Black-majority congressional district, several red states including Louisiana, Tennessee, Alabama, and South Carolina are rushing to redraw maps to favor Republicans, potentially diluting Black electoral power ahead of the 2026 midterms.
• Louisiana's Governor Jeff Landry suspended a congressional primary after over 100,000 mail-in ballots were sent, to allow approval of GOP-favoring maps expected to flip majority-Black districts; similar special sessions have been called in Tennessee, Alabama, and South Carolina.
• The DOJ has subpoenaed Fulton County, Georgia, demanding personal information on all 2020 election workers and volunteers, escalating the Trump administration’s ongoing investigation into the 2020 election; Fulton County officials argue this is an overreach intended to intimidate election workers.
• Michigan GOP Senate candidate Mike Rogers proposed recruiting off-duty or retired police officers as poll watchers in Detroit, a move criticized as voter intimidation and potentially illegal under federal law prohibiting intimidation at polling places.
• Additional election updates include Indiana Republicans facing losses after resisting Trump pressure and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signing a new GOP-favorable congressional map, which has already prompted legal challenges.