When the Louisiana Legislature convened in Baton Rouge for this so-called “special session on redistricting and election-law reform,” make no mistake: this isn’t about strengthening democracy, it’s about weakening it. What’s happening right now in Louisiana is part of a broader national strategy to manipulate the rules of the game, consolidate conservative power, and silence communities that have fought too hard and too long to be heard.
This session matters because the right to vote, and the right to be fairly represented, is the foundation of every other right we hold dear. From New Orleans to Monroe, Lake Charles to Lafayette, our citizens are watching as those in power attempt to redraw the political map and rewrite election laws in a way that diminishes their voices.
The Stakes for Louisiana’s Democracy
Redistricting is supposed to be about people, not politics. It’s meant to ensure that every voter (Black, white, rural, urban, Democrat, Republican) has an equal opportunity to choose their leaders. Instead, this special session threatens to unravel the fair and balanced legislative maps that we, as a Legislature, unanimously adopted at the beginning of 2024 after years of litigation, negotiation, and debate.
Those maps were not a partisan victory, they were a moral one. They represented a commitment to fairness, compliance with the Voting Rights Act, and respect for the federal court’s guidance. To now revisit those same maps, less than a year later, sends a chilling message: that no agreement is safe when the political winds shift.
The truth is simple, this is not about correcting errors. It’s about reversing progress. And it’s being done at taxpayer expense.
What’s Really Behind This Session
The real motive isn’t fairness, it’s fear.
Fear of a Louisiana electorate that’s becoming younger, more diverse, and more engaged. Fear of voters who want action on insurance reform, affordable housing, and quality schools. Fear of working families demanding a government that works for them.
When voters start demanding those things, the easiest way to hold onto power isn’t to compete on ideas, it’s to change the rules.
As someone who has spent my career fighting for justice, I know that when government stops listening to the people, democracy itself is in danger. This special session is a test of whether Louisiana will stand up for its citizens or allow power to silence progress.
How Democrats Are Responding
The Democratic caucus may be outnumbered, but we are not powerless. Our strategy begins with telling the truth, clearly, consistently, and loudly. We will use every procedural tool at our disposal to expose the real intent of this session.
Beyond the Capitol walls, we’re working with grassroots organizers, civil-rights advocates, and faith leaders to ensure the public knows what’s at stake. Democracy survives when people stay informed and engaged.
Inside the chambers, we will fight with facts and conviction. Outside, we need our allies (activists, clergy, educators, and local media) to keep the spotlight on what’s happening. Sunlight remains the best disinfectant.
A Call to Action
To every Louisianan reading this: your voice matters. Contact your legislators. Attend committee hearings. Write, call, and post. Democracy doesn’t die in a single moment. It erodes when good people look away.
Grassroots organizations across the state are already mobilizing. They need your support now. And to my colleagues in government and the media: keep telling the truth. Don’t let coded language about “efficiency” or “uniformity” disguise what this really is, an attempt to roll back representation.
The Path Forward
Louisiana has never advanced through retreat. Every inch of progress, from desegregation to voting rights, was earned through courage and conviction. The same spirit that carried us through the civil rights movement must guide us today.
I believe in the people of this state. I believe that deep down, Louisianans want fairness, accountability, and leaders who use power to lift others, not themselves.
This moment calls for moral clarity. It’s not about party. It’s about principle. The question before us is simple: will we defend democracy, or will we allow it to be dismantled piece by piece?
As long as I have the privilege of serving, I will stand on the side of fairness, inclusion, and truth. Because democracy is not a gift, it’s a responsibility. And it’s one we must all be willing to defend.