Louisiana lawmakers have begun discussions on the state’s new congressional map.
This comes after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Louisiana’s map with two majority-Black congressional districts was unconstitutional.
The decision has pushed House races off the May 16 ballot as lawmakers scramble to approve a new map.
Legislators say they will approve a new map this legislative session, and have introduced four options and began debates on Friday morning.
Video from inside the Senate Committee meeting shows a fight break out. A man was removed from the court room following the outburst.
This comes amid passionate discussions that were had throughout the morning on the proposed maps.
Below is a breakdown of each proposed map.
Option 1:
The first option for a new congressional map was introduced in a bill by Sen. Jay Morris.
The map would eliminate both majority-Black districts.
For District 2, represented by congressman Troy Carter, the makeup of the district would be 348,478 total white population to 326,501 total Black population.
For District 6, represented by Congressman Cleo Fields, the makeup of the district would be 417,954 total white population to 282,282 total Black population.
Carter’s district is in yellow, and Fields’ district is in green.
Option 2:
The second option for a new congressional map was also introduced by Sen. Morris.
This map would make Field’s district majority white.
Fields’ district, which is District 6, would be 495,043 total white population to 196,465 total Black population.
For Carter’s district, the population would be 474,418 total Black to 218,135 total white, which keeps one majority-Black district for the state.
Carter’s district is yellow in this map, and Fields’ district is in green.
Option 3:
The third map was also proposed by Sen. Morris and would make Carter’s district majority white.
Carter’s district would be 536,715 total white population, and 156,523 total Black population.
Field’s district would be 230,570 total white population, and 485,123 majority Black population.
This map would overlap areas between District 2 and District 6, which would pit Carter and Fields against each other for the one dominant majority-Black district.
Carter’s district is yellow in this map, and Fields’ district is in green.
Option 4:
The fourth and final option, proposed by Sen. Ed Price, would keep Carter’s district majority-Black, but stretch more west and pull in Black population from Lafayette.
Carter’s district in this map would have a total white population of 275,643 and 415,880 total Black population.
For Fields’ district, this map would have a total white population of 552,819 and 141,414 total Black population.
Fields’ district would stretch from parts of East Baton Rouge and Ascension to the Northshore, including Tangipahoa Parish, Washington Parish, and parts of St. Tammany Parish.
Carter’s district is yellow in this map, and Fields’ district is in green.
The legislature convenes in the Senate at 9 a.m. Friday to begin discussions.
READ MORE:Four new congressional maps are being discussed in the Senate today. See each option
