Dems Stand to Lose Dozens of Congressional Districts at SCOTUS
At least nineteen and perhaps more Democratic-held congressional districts could shift to Republican control depending on the outcome of a major redistricting case being reargued before the Supreme Court on Wednesday.
The case, Louisiana v. Callais, examines whether the state’s move to create a second majority-black congressional district violates the Fourteenth or Fifteenth Amendments. The Fourteenth Amendment guarantees equal protection under the law and birthright citizenship, while the Fifteenth prohibits denying the right to vote on the basis of race.
Attorneys for the state argued on Wednesday the legislature was essentially given the choice – either create the second black-majority congressional district or the Justice Dept. would step in and do it.
The Court’s ruling could have sweeping implications for congressional maps nationwide, potentially reshaping the balance of power in the House of Representatives ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, Newsweek reported.
Louisiana’s congressional map was redrawn to include a second Black-majority district following lawsuits that claimed the previous map violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act by weakening the voting strength of black residents.
Phillip Callais and a group of non-black voters challenged the revised map, contending that it amounted to an unconstitutional racial gerrymander.
The Supreme Court’s decision in the case is expected to have major implications for how legislatures across the country apply Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, which prohibits redistricting plans that diminish minority voting power.
While the outcome remains uncertain, Democrats are expressing concern that the Supreme Court’s 6-3 conservative majority could side with Callais’ argument.
According to a report by the left-leaning nonprofits Fair Fight Action and the Black Voters Matter Fund, a ruling in favor of Callais could result in the redrawing of 19 Democratic-held congressional districts currently protected under the Voting Rights Act, potentially shifting them to favor Republican candidates.
President Donald Trump has signaled his intent to preserve Republican control of the House in the 2026 midterm elections and has indicated a willingness to urge state officials to pursue out-of-cycle redistricting efforts to help achieve that objective.
The following districts could be subject to redrawing if the Supreme Court moves to limit or overturn Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.
Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District, which includes the city of Mobile and most of the Montgomery metropolitan area, is represented by Democrat Shomari Figures. A former attorney, Figures previously worked on Barack Obama’s presidential campaign and later served as deputy chief of staff to former Attorney General Merrick Garland.
Black residents make up nearly 50 percent of the district’s estimated 703,362 population, forming a plurality, while white residents account for about 41 percent. The district has been held by a Democrat since January 2025, following its redrawing in 2024.
Alabama’s 7th Congressional District includes parts of the Birmingham, Montgomery, and Tuscaloosa metropolitan areas, along with the entire city of Selma. Representative Terri Sewell, a Democrat, has served the district since 2011.
Of the district’s estimated 718,912 residents, more than 51 percent are Black and nearly 39 percent are white. The district has remained under Democratic representation since 1967, with no Republican having held the seat in nearly six decades.
Louisiana’s 2nd Congressional District encompasses nearly all of New Orleans and stretches north toward Baton Rouge. Although it is currently considered safely Democratic, redistricting could turn the district into a competitive battleground.
Representative Troy Carter has held the seat since 2021. Before his election to Congress, Carter served as minority leader in the Louisiana State Senate and previously held positions on the New Orleans City Council and in the Louisiana House of Representatives.
The district’s estimated population of 736,254 is nearly 50 percent Black and about 33 percent white. A Republican last represented the district in 2011.
At the center of the Supreme Court case, Louisiana’s newly drawn 6th Congressional District spans from Shreveport in the northwest to areas near Baton Rouge in the southwest, Newsweek reported.
Representative Cleo Fields currently holds the seat, having previously served in Congress representing the 4th District from 1993 to 1997.
Black residents make up about 52 percent of the district’s estimated 753,643 population, while nearly 36 percent are white. The district was represented by a Republican as recently as January 2025.
part 1
The black duffel bag hit the porch with a heavy thud.
Its zipper burst open.
Everything inside spilled across the wooden boards.
At first, nobody moved.
Then Sheriff Daniels stepped forward.
A black handgun slid across the porch until it stopped against the front step.
His hand instantly went to his holster.
"Nobody move!"
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
The cameraman zoomed in.
Beside the handgun lay dozens of unopened envelopes.
Every one of them carried military postage.
Every one of them was addressed to:
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Parker
The return address read:
Sergeant Emily Parker
Camp Arifjan, Kuwait.
The dates stretched across four years.
Some envelopes were faded from heat.
Others were still sealed with military tape.
Mrs. Ellis whispered, "Those are her letters..."
Pastor Ray slowly picked one up from the porch.
"It hasn't even been opened."
Another envelope.
Still sealed.
Then another.
Twenty.
Thirty.
More than anyone could count.
Mr. Greer's face turned pale.
"I delivered every one of those."
Nobody answered.
Inside the house came the sound of something crashing.
Emily couldn't breathe.
"I wrote every month."
Her voice barely carried.
"I never missed a birthday... never missed Christmas... never missed Mom's anniversary after her surgery."
She looked toward the windows.
"You never read them?"
Silence.
Sheriff Daniels carefully picked up the pistol using a handkerchief.
"This weapon isn't loaded."
Deputy Harris stepped beside him.
"Serial number's still intact."
Daniels stared.
His expression changed.
"I know this gun."
The deputy frowned.
"What?"
"It was reported stolen."
"When?"
"Almost six years ago."
He looked toward the Parker house.
"By Richard Parker."
The entire crowd turned toward the front door.
Inside, someone shouted.
"No!"
Then another crash.
Mr. Greer suddenly remembered something.
"I have something."
He hurried back to his mail truck.
People watched him disappear into the driver's seat.
A moment later he returned carrying a thick leather folder.
"I wasn't sure I'd ever need this."
He handed it to the sheriff.
Daniels opened it.
Inside were photocopies.
Certified mail receipts.
Postal forwarding forms.
Rejected delivery notices.
Every document carried Richard Parker's signature.
The sheriff flipped page after page.
"Refused."
"Refused."
"Refused."
"Forward to sender."
Again.
Again.
Again.
Mr. Greer's voice trembled.
"Four years ago your parents came to the post office."
"They told us you were dangerous."
"They said if any military mail arrived, they didn't want it."
Emily stared at him.
"They said that?"
He nodded sadly.
"They claimed you'd threatened the family before you went away."
Mrs. Ellis burst into tears.
"Oh my God..."
Pastor Ray slowly removed his glasses.
"I told the congregation to pray for Richard and Linda."
"I thought they were grieving."
Across the street, whispers spread through the neighbors.
"I remember..."
"They said she assaulted someone."
"I heard she'd robbed a store."
"No... they told me she'd attacked her own father."
Every rumor.
Every lie.
Every cruel glance Emily had imagined while overseas...
Suddenly made sense.
She felt her knees weaken.
Mr. Greer caught her before she fell.
"You don't owe these people an apology."
Emily wiped away tears.
"I kept wondering why nobody answered."
She laughed bitterly.
"I thought everyone had forgotten me."
The sheriff continued examining the folder.
Then he stopped.
One document had a different heading.
Application for Declaration of Death in Absentia.
Daniels frowned.
"What is this?"
He read farther.
The filing claimed Emily Parker had been "missing with probable criminal activity."
Attached was a request to transfer ownership of her college trust, vehicle title, and military survivor benefits.
The application carried two signatures.
Richard Parker.
Linda Parker.
The crowd gasped.
"They tried to declare her legally dead?" someone whispered.
"No..."
"They couldn't..."
Emily's head snapped toward the house.
"My college trust?"
Her father had promised that account would always belong to her.
She had worked two jobs through high school because they insisted every dollar mattered.
Now...
Her stomach twisted.
They had tried to erase her completely.
Inside the house, another loud bang echoed.
Deputy Harris looked toward the sheriff.
"They're moving."
Daniels nodded once.
"Cover the back."
Two deputies sprinted around the sides of the property.
The cameraman followed until another officer pushed him back.
Suddenly the upstairs curtains flew open.
Richard Parker appeared for only a second.
His face was drenched with sweat.
He looked directly at Emily.
Not with guilt.
With hatred.
"You should've stayed gone!" he screamed.
Then he disappeared.
Mrs. Parker's terrified voice echoed from somewhere inside.
"Richard, stop!"
Another crash.
Glass shattered.
Deputy Collins shouted from the backyard.
"Sheriff!"
"They're trying to get out!"
The crowd surged toward the sidewalk before officers forced everyone back.
Sheriff Daniels drew a slow breath.
"This isn't about an escaped convict anymore."
He looked at the house.
"This is now a criminal investigation."
Emily stood frozen.
Four years she'd dreamed about coming home.
Four years imagining hugs.
Laughter.
A family dinner.
Instead...
Her own parents had spent those same four years convincing an entire town that she was a criminal.
And judging by the fear inside that house...
The lies were only beginning to unravel.
