After Gov. Jeff Landry filed an emergency executive order to suspend the primary elections, Democratic candidates in the race and civil rights organizations are fighting back with legal action, claiming that Landry is overstepping his authority and suppressing Black voters.
Landry’s order comes after the Supreme Court decision that ruled Louisiana’s redistricting maps as unconstitutional gerrymandering, when the state created a second majority-Black congressional district.
“This is regression on steroids,” said Randal Gaines, chair of the Louisiana Democratic Party. “This court has consistently, consistently ruled against the interests of minorities, particularly African Americans. They have not taken action in the last five to 10 years to define the rights of minorities, to interpret the rights of minorities.”
The first lawsuit was filed by Lindsay Garcia, a Democratic candidate for the state’s fifth district.
“While I am a candidate, I am also a constituent, and I cannot sit on the sidelines repeatedly and not step up at a time like this,” Garcia said. “I’m filing on behalf of every single Democrat, every single Republican, because it’s a bipartisan issue. You’re not just disenfranchising the Democrat voters in Louisiana. You’re disenfranchising the Republican ones who are also candidates.”
In another lawsuit against Landry, the 19th judicial district court ruled in favor of the state, upholding Landry’s efforts to halt the primaries.
In response, Attorney General Liz Murill said, “Louisiana is following the law. I will vigorously defend the state against any lawsuits seeking to block the lawful suspension of congressional elections as our Legislature moves forward to adopt new dates and a constitutional map.”
The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan voter education organization, told WDSU they joined a lawsuit, alongside the NAACP and ACLU, after working for months to spread information about primary elections.
“If the legislature decides to redistrict the maps at some point, whether it’s soon or maybe in a special session later in the summer, and they want to apply that to the 2028 elections, that’s their prerogative to do,” said M. Christian Green, president of the League of Women Voters Louisiana, “But we think the elections that are currently in progress need to go forward to their completion”
While Garcia’s lawsuit is pending, House candidates could still appear on the ballot, with the option to still vote, but it’s unclear if that vote will count.
Early voting begins Saturday, May 2, at 8 a.m.
READ MORE:Gov. Landry faces multiple lawsuits after issuing executive order
