May 21, 2026policy changevoting rightsredistrictinglegislative processracial representationvoting rightsredistrictingcivil rights
Louisiana House committee advances SB 121, moving to erase Cleo Fields's majority-Black district
The Louisiana House and Governmental Affairs Committee voted 10-7 on May 21, 2026, to advance SB 121 with amendments, according to the Louisiana Legislature's committee vote record and bill page. Jay Morris and committee Republicans pushed the redraw after the Supreme Court's Callais ruling and Jeff Landry's election delay. The proposal would collapse the second majority-Black district created in 2024, make Cleo Fields's current seat more Republican, and move Louisiana toward a 5-1 Republican split in its U.S. House delegation, according to WAFB, KSLA, and Democracy Docket. Opponents said the plan diluted Black voting power while Morris said it maximized Republican advantage.
Sources
Louisiana Legislature bill page for SB121Louisiana House and Governmental Affairs Committee vote on SB121, May 21, 2026Louisiana House Committee Amendment 5999 to SB121U.S. Supreme Court opinion in Louisiana v. CallaisLouisiana Illuminator: Louisiana House committee advances congressional map favoring RepublicansWAFB: Louisiana congressional map bill advances to HouseKSLA: Louisiana lawmakers change congressional map again in redistricting fightDemocracy Docket: Louisiana redistricting state House panel advances GOP gerrymandering, erasing majority-Black district