Black spokespersons have made it clear at public hearings around the state that they want to see the Legislature create a second minority U.S. House district at a February special session. That is going to be difficult to accomplish for a number of reasons. 

Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards also wants a second minority congressional district, but explained two reasons why it could be difficult. First, he said it depends on where the Black populations are located. 

The state had a second minority district in the 1990s. Current state Sen. Cleo Fields, D-Baton Rouge, was elected to the 4^th Congressional District seat in 1992 and 1994. 

One of those districts was Z-shaped and 600 miles long. Federal courts rejected that district and drew another one. The U.S. Supreme Court eventually ruled that political boundaries couldn’t be drawn for the sole purpose of boosting minority strength and the second minority district was dissolved. 

Edwards still thinks a minority district should be pursued, saying, “But obviously if we want to talk about fairness and making sure the maps reflect the reality of what the situation is on the ground, that should certainly be our goal,” Edwards said. “And I’m hopeful that we’re going to be able to get there, that people will agree that that’s the right thing to do.”

The 2^nd Congressional District is the only minority district out of the state’s six districts. U.S. Rep. Troy Carter, D-New Orleans, represents the district that stretches from New Orleans east to north Baton Rouge along the Mississippi River.  

Black legislators have said the population numbers tell the story. They said Blacks make up one-third of the state’s population and one-third of six congressional districts is 2. 

Edwards explained reason No. 2 why a second minority district would be difficult. “If we do it, of course, I don’t know that we can have two North Louisiana districts continue to look like they do because it would be a major reworking of the map.” 

Those two districts he is talking about are the 4^th and 5^th Congressional Districts. U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson represents the Shreveport-based 4^th District and U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow of Start represents the 5^th District. 

Black lawmakers think the 5^th District could be their second district. Rep. Jack McFarland, R-Jonesboro, had a quick answer for that, according to a report in The Advocate. 

“Why are we going after our first Republican female congresswoman? In one breath, we’re saying we want equity, but at the same way, we’re saying we want to do away with her district so she can’t win again.”” 

Both of those districts have lost population over the years, and they probably should be consolidated into one district. However, Republicans who hold those two offices have had their defenders dating back to the 2011 redistricting legislative session when Bobby Jindal was governor. 

Jindal said he would veto any legislation that created only one congressional district in north Louisiana, and he won the day. 

GOP leaders in both the state House and Senate have made it clear that they want to keep two north Louisiana districts. Having only one district means one of the state’s five Republican members of Congress would likely lose their seat. 

Republicans have strong control of the Legislature. There are 68 GOP members in the House, 35 Democrats and 2 independents. The Senate has 27 Republicans and 12 Democrats. It takes two-thirds in each chamber to override a governor’s veto. That’s 26 in the Senate and 70 in the House. 

Edwards didn’t say he would veto legislation that doesn’t create a second minority district, but he still has that option. The problem still goes back to the numbers. 

Rep. John Stefanski, R-Crowley, and Sen. Sharon Hewitt, R-Slidell, chair the two committees that will handle the redrawing of election lines, and both will have a lot to say about the outcome. 

Stefanski told The Associated Press he’s heard more interest from lawmakers about “tweaking around the edges” of the current districts, including maintaining the two north Louisiana districts. However, earlier he said, “You could probably, I think, maybe make two minority-majority districts work.” 

Black legislators will have some district proposals to offer, and one or more of their congressional plans might be acceptable to federal courts. However, if legislators don’t create a second minority district, a lawsuit is almost guaranteed. 

We will get a better picture of where all of this is headed once that special session begins in February.