Supreme Court Louisiana v. Callais ruling sparks gerrymandering debate

Editorial by Linda Hoover

Pexels image is by Mikhail Nilov and accessed May 2026.

The recent Supreme Court ruling on Louisiana v. Callais, in a 6-3 decision, is devastating and further erodes the 1965 Voting Rights Act. The case centers on the drawing of congressional districts in Louisiana, specifically the second Black-majority congressional district. The court decided that there was an unconstitutional racial basis, along with a failure to follow the standards for drawing districts.

Redistricting or gerrymandering, as it has come to be called since the early 1800’s, involves drawing congressional districts to represent the populace of a state for electing people to Congress. In a perfect world, these districts would be drawn in a balanced way, allowing for representation of all races within a state. However, we don’t live in a perfect world where representation is balanced. Representation generally favors the majority political party.

With the Court’s decision, districts can now be more creatively drawn to underrepresent voters of certain races and favor others … as if they weren’t already. The decision will further embolden those who draw the districts. If you have ever seen a map of a state’s districts, it is far from what seems logical unless you consider political power plays. The shapes of the districts are bizarre.

We can expect many states to redraw maps ahead of the midterm elections. As this is done, there will be more court cases questioning the legality. 

Is there a better solution than favoring the majority party? Yes, it would be to have a 3-tiered independent committee that is responsible for drawing congressional districts. The three tiers provide a check and balance on the decisions.

What does the Constitution say about this? It calls for representation for all people. States, however, use the number of people to determine how many people will be in a district divided by the number of Congressional Representatives for that state. For North Carolina, take the number of registered voters and divide it by fourteen, the number of representatives we currently have. This number can shift if the population increases or decreases.

Given this, it can’t be stated enough how important it is to be a registered voter. It is equally important to periodically check that your registration is still valid, as voter rolls are being purged.

As citizens, we are not without a voice. However, it is up to each of us to use it. Democracy requires active maintenance, and Americans have become complacent.

May 3, 2026

Linda Hoover

Linda Hoover is a long-time resident of the Sandhills since 1986 and Sanford as of 2020. By profession, she is a horse trainer, who helps her clients develop harmonious partnerships with their equine partners. 

A firm believer in the rule of law and separation of powers, as essential underpinnings of our constitution republic, Linda became politically active in March 2025. She is currently a co-chair of Indivisible Moore County. 

Subscribe to Sandhills News and support this conservative journalism with advertising.

Submit news tips, events and interview requests to editor@sandhills.news.

Sandhills News is plain-English local government reporting that explains how decisions affect your land, taxes, schools and rights.