Hearing underway on attempt to overthrow La.’s congressional map

SHREVEPORT, La. (KSLA) — Testimony continued Tuesday (April 9) in Day 2 of a trial over an attempt to overthrow Louisiana’s new congressional map.

The hearing before a three-judge panel is being held in Shreveport and could last at least one more day.

Earlier this year, Louisiana lawmakers were tasked with making the map after a judge said a previous one violated the Voting Rights Act. The judge said Louisiana must have two majority-minority districts since one-third of its population is African-American. The previous map had one such district.

Under the latest map, the new 6th Congressional District extends from southern Caddo Parish through Natchitoches and Alexandria to Baton Rouge. The new boundaries jeopardize Republican Congressman Garret Graves’ place in Congress.

Longtime Democratic politician Cleo Fields already has announced he’s running for the post. Fields previously served in Congress but declined to seek re-election in 1996 after two terms representing a district that ultimately was thrown out by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Republican state Sen. Alan Seabaugh, who represents state District 31 in Northwest Louisiana, doesn’t approve of Louisiana’s latest congressional map. He explained why to KSLA News 12 in January:

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