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Senate committee keeps SB 407 in committee after 4–3 vote amid 'packing' and 'cracking' debate
Summary
A legislative committee voted 4–3 not to advance SB 407 after senators and witnesses sharply disputed whether the proposed congressional map 'packs' or 'cracks' Black voters and whether it affords minority communities a genuine opportunity to elect candidates of choice.
A Louisiana Senate committee voted early May 13 to keep Senate Bill 407 in committee after a 4–3 roll call, ending an extended exchange over whether the proposed congressional map dilutes Black voting strength.
Senator Jenkins moved to advance SB 407 with amendments; the roll call returned four no votes and three yes votes, and the motion failed. The chair announced, "No's have it. Senate bill 407 will stay in committee."
Supporters of the bill and its proponents said the amended configuration provides competitive opportunity districts and reflects traditional redistricting principles, including contiguity and communities of interest. Senator Morris described the map as "pretty even" in certain districts and cited voting-age population figures, saying, for example, "In District 2, the voting age population is 44 white, 41 black" and that District 6 also shows similar balances.
Opponents said the map nonetheless 'packs' Black voters into a single district and 'cracks' others across multiple districts, reducing statewide Black influence. Senator Jenkins argued the amendment had not meaningfully changed the underlying numbers and said the map amounted to "a political power grab" that "dilut[es] voting power." Jenkins and other critics cited figures showing several districts with very high white voting-age populations (examples referenced in the hearing: District 1 ~71.9% white to ~13% Black; other districts with white majorities in the 60s and 70s by VAP).
Senator Barrow, speaking during testimony, emphasized voter choice and fairness: "we have to ensure when we talk about fairness that that playing field is leveled as possible," and said the map should at least allow voters "a candidate of their choice."
The committee's discussion included repeated references to recent litigation: members cited a Supreme Court decision and a Western District of Louisiana order as the reason the Legislature is now considering new congressional maps. Lawmakers disagreed about the precise legal directives and the timing required by the courts; that dispute was part of the later discussion on SB 121. For SB 407, however, the committee majority concluded not to move the bill out of committee.
The committee proceeded to consider other redistricting bills after the vote.
