Trump Calls for States to Cancel Active Elections and Redraw Congressional Maps Following Supreme Court Voting Rights Ruling

President Donald Trump called on state legislatures to cancel active elections and redraw congressional maps over the weekend.

In a Truth Social post Sunday, Trump declared that Republicans “should demand that State Legislatures do what the Supreme Court says must be done” and predicted the move would deliver Republicans “more than 20 House Seats in the upcoming Midterms.”

The Supreme Court’s 6-3 ruling in Louisiana v. Callais struck down Louisiana’s congressional map that included two majority-Black districts. Writing for the conservative majority, Justice Samuel Alito found that Louisiana improperly relied on race when drawing district lines to comply with Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. 

The decision gutted a key provision of the Voting Rights Act by requiring proof of intentional racial discrimination rather than discriminatory effect.

Louisiana’s map was drawn in 2024 after years of litigation established that the state’s previous map likely violated the VRA by providing Black voters opportunity to elect candidates of their choice in only one district, despite Black voters comprising approximately one-third of Louisiana’s population.

The Louisiana 2024 map included two majority-Black districts to comply with the VRA. This 2024 map was used in the 2024 general election and resulted in the historic first-time seating of two Black representatives from Louisiana. 

Trump’s assertion that the Callais ruling requires states to immediately redraw maps contradicts constitutional principles regarding election administration.  

Trump endorsed halting active elections even where thousands of votes have already been cast. “If they have to vote twice, so be it,” the President wrote.

Louisiana has already announced plans to suspend congressional primaries scheduled for May 16 despite absentee voting having already commenced.

The Callais decision opens the door for states to redraw congressional and state legislative maps ahead of the 2026 midterms, potentially eliminating majority-minority districts nationwide that provided fair representation for Black voters and other voters of color.

Aside from moves by Louisiana, several states are taking action to change their congressional maps prior to midterms:

Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen requested immediate Supreme Court review of a dispute over the state’s 2023 congressional map, which currently includes a court-ordered additional majority-minority district. Allen announced on May 4 that Alabama’s May 19 primary would proceed as planned. 

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee called the state legislature into special session on Friday to take steps toward redistricting.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an electoral map into law, giving the GOP a 24-4 advantage in the state’s congressional seats.

Several states had already redrawn maps before the Callais ruling, primarily in response to President Trump’s July 2025 suggestion that Texas redraw its congressional map:

Texas passed a new map in 2025 after Governor Greg Abbott added redistricting to a special session agenda.

Missouri enacted a new map in September 2025, though it faces a veto referendum in November 2026 and multiple lawsuits.

North Carolina passed a new map in October 2025.

California passed a constitutional amendment and new map in August 2025 to redraw five Republican-held districts in retaliation for Texas redistricting.

Virginia passed a constitutional amendment bypassing its redistricting commission and held a special election on April 21, 2026, with the new map expected to gain Democrats three to four seats.

Ohio was required to redraw districts due to lack of bipartisan support as mandated by the state constitution.

Utah was required to redraw after the Utah Supreme Court struck down the previous map as an unlawful partisan gerrymander.

New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill indicated openness to redrawing congressional maps to eliminate 2-3 Republican-held seats, but the state legislature said redistricting is not a priority before the 2026 midterms.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul expressed interest in exploring redistricting to counter Republican efforts, but procedural restrictions prevent the legislature from redrawing maps before the 2026 midterms.

Maryland passed a new map through the House of Delegates in February 2026 that would give Democrats an additional seat, but Senate President Bill Ferguson refused to hold a vote, expressing concerns the Maryland Supreme Court would strike down the gerrymander.

Georgia is being closely watched, as Governor Brian Kemp stated the Callais ruling “requires Georgia to adopt new electoral maps before the 2028 election cycle,” though a Democratic gubernatorial win in 2026 could serve as a check on redistricting efforts.