Wednesday night, Governor John Bel Edwards vetoed the congressional redistricting map that was passed by the state legislature, saying it failed to include a district that would allow a second Black candidate the opportunity to serve as a member of Louisiana’s congressional delegation. Capitol bureau editor of The Advocate, Mark Ballard says the map offers little change to the status quo.
“Those districts were drawn to protect the incumbents that are in those seats right now and they did not increase minority seats,” he said. “They just basically kind of kept everything the way it was.”
Republican legislative leaders now have to decide whether or not to pursue an override. A governor’s veto has been overridden just twice in the state’s history, so the odds are long for the Republican-led legislature, says Ballard.
“To override the governor, the Republicans are all going to have to stand pat, which is not a guarantee,” said Ballard. “And then they’re going to have to pick up two more votes in the house.”
Ballard says that this is another example of partisan politics with elected officials attempting to solidify their power by taking care of their own voters while disregarding other groups within their districts.
“Representatives, they don’t have to be statesmen anymore,” Ballard said. “All they have to do is make sure that their base is protected.”
A veto override would require a two-thirds vote in both legislative chambers.
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