Takeaways from the Supreme Court arguments on the Voting Rights Act and race

This sketch shows the inside of the US Supreme Court in Washington, DC, during oral arguments on October 15, 2025. Dana Verkouteren

The Supreme Court’s conservative supermajority signaled deep skepticism Wednesday over the creation of a second majority Black district in Louisiana and appeared open to at least weakening the landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965 in a way that could limit minority representation in Congress.

On one level, the case is about a single congressional district in Louisiana – drawn after the 2020 census to ensure African American voters could elect a candidate of their choice. More fundamentally, the case is about whether governments may actively address discrimination – current or historic – by taking an action that is intended to help racial minorities.

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