The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 on Wednesday to strike down Louisiana’s 6th Congressional District, which was redrawn in 2024 to have a predominantly Black electorate. The court also ruled that states may not use race to draw districts that disenfranchise voters or help minority communities support their preferred candidates.
Tahrohon Wayne (T.W.) Shannon, Oklahoma’s first African American speaker of the House and current lieutenant governor candidate, criticized former President Barack Obama’s reaction to the decision. Obama called the ruling "disastrous for minorities" on X, stating it "abandoned" principles of equal participation. Shannon countered that the ruling pushes race out of American politics, arguing that minorities don’t need specially drawn districts to win office. "This idea that you must have a racially drawn district in order to win and compete is just nonsense," Shannon said.
Shannon also criticized Obama’s framing, arguing it inflames racial division. "What the Supreme Court really did is say that you can't fix discrimination by discriminating against people," Shannon told Fox News Digital. "Race should not be a deciding factor when it comes to redistricting."
The ruling was delivered along ideological lines, with the conservative majority striking down the district. The decision has sparked debate over the role of race in redistricting and the broader implications for minority representation in politics.