GiaQuinta issues statement on SCOTUS Voting Rights Act decision

Today, the U.S. Supreme Court voted 6-3 to require Louisiana to redraw its congressional maps to undo efforts to give Black voters equal representation following the 2020 census. The most recent map gave Louisiana, where Black residents represent roughly 33% of the state's population, two majority-Black districts. A Republican-backed lawsuit argued that the maps created districts based on race, which violates the 14th Amendment. The court ultimately agreed, furthering diluting Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Indiana House Democratic Leader Phil GiaQuinta (D-Fort Wayne) issued the following statement on behalf of House Democrats:

"Hoosiers and Americans care deeply about fair play and fair representation.

"Last fall, Indiana had a months-long battle over Gov. Braun and House Republicans' attempt to redraw the compact congressional district representing most of Indianapolis, a district with a 31% Black population and 16% Hispanic population. Their proposed map would have split the city into four districts, each stretching from dense urban Indianapolis to rural counties in completely different parts of the state. The map also carved up urban Lake County and other major cities throughout the state, and Hoosiers resoundingly rejected it. They understood that spreading representation across vastly different communities means everyone loses.

"Today's Supreme Court decision will drown out minority voices by allowing partisan maps that carve up majority-Black districts for pure political gain and rigging elections before they even happen. This ruling violates the spirit of the Voting Rights Act. People need to trust that their representatives are truly accountable to them, and map rigging destroys that trust. Indiana House Democrats will keep fighting for fair maps that reflect our communities, not maps drawn to protect one political party."