Louisiana delays US House primaries after Supreme Court ruling but lets other races go forward

By Fredreka Schouten, Arlette Saenz, Patrick Svitek, CNN

(CNN) — Louisiana Republicans delayed the May 16 primaries for US House Thursday, one day after the US Supreme Court’s decision invalidating the state’s congressional map and calling it an unconstitutional gerrymander.

Early voting was scheduled to begin Saturday and overseas ballots had already gone out. The primaries for other races will still move forward, according to a statement from Louisiana Secretary of State Nancy Landry. That includes a closely watched US Senate Republican primary, in which Sen. Bill Cassidy faces challenges from US Rep. Julia Letlow, endorsed by President Donald Trump, and State Treasurer John Fleming.

While the House races will remain on the May 16 ballot, no votes cast in those races will count, Nancy Landry said in the statement.

Democratic Rep. Cleo Fields, whose district is at the center of the Supreme Court’s redistricting decision, said earlier Thursday that Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry had told him he anticipated issuing an executive order to suspend the House election and call a new one.

Fields told CNN he expects a court challenge to the move, which was first reported by The Washington Post.

“People have already voted,” Fields said. “Early ballots have been submitted.”

Landry posted an earlier joint statement with state Attorney General Liz Murrill on X, saying Wednesday’s Supreme Court ruling meant the state was “currently enjoined from carrying out congressional elections under the current map.”

“We are working together with the Legislature and the Secretary of State’s office to develop a path forward,” Landry and Murrill said.

Leaders of the state’s Republican-controlled legislature said they are preparing to draw a new map and set a new date for the US House primary election.

“We believe that we have the bills available in the current session to accomplish that work within the remaining month of our regular legislative session,” Louisiana Senate President Cameron Henry and House Speaker Phillip DeVillier said in a joint statement Thursday afternoon.

The session is slated to end June 1.

This story has been updated with additional information.

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