Overnight 'power grab' sees red state GOP vote at 4 AM to nix Dem seat

In a predawn vote Wednesday, Louisiana's Republican-controlled Senate committee approved a new congressional map that eliminates the state's second Democratic-majority district, setting the stage for GOP control of five of six seats.

The 4-3 vote came at 4:25 a.m. after more than nine hours of testimony, with "bleary-eyed" lawmakers and spectators witnessing the outcome of a gerrymander battle triggered by the Supreme Court's April 29 ruling that declared Louisiana's original Democratic district unconstitutional, according to local news reports.

Senate Bill 121, authored by Sen. Jay Morris (R-West Monroe), creates a winding 2nd District stretching from New Orleans through the River Parishes into Baton Rouge. The configuration could force Black congressmen Cleo Fields and Troy Carter to compete against each other for the state's lone Democratic seat.

Democrats immediately condemned the map. "This 5-1 map is a political power grab," said Sen. Sam Jenkins (D-Shreveport). "You're minimizing opportunity in the other five districts."

Morris defended the outcome, telling critics the new map "absolutely" passes scrutiny "compared to the 2024 map, which had the snake running from Shreveport almost all the way to New Orleans."

The legislation advances to the full Senate before the June 1 deadline for finalizing Louisiana's congressional maps.

Reporter Jake Sherman reacted to the controversial move, saying, "Louisiana goes for one Dem seat instead of 0."