Democratic voting rights groups are raising alarms ahead of a major Supreme Court case, Louisiana v. Callais, which they fear could significantly weaken minority representation in Congress. Scheduled for rehearing on October 15, the case focuses on Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act — a key provision that prohibits racial gerrymandering and protects against voting laws or maps that dilute the power of minority voters.

Two prominent organizations, Fair Fight Action and the Black Voters Matter Fund, released a joint report warning that if Section 2 is struck down or weakened, Republicans could redraw as many as 19 congressional districts to their advantage. This shift, they argue, could lock in Republican control of the House for the foreseeable future. The report also estimates that as much as 30% of the Congressional Black Caucus and 11% of the Hispanic Caucus could be redistricted out of their current seats.

Republicans contend that the Voting Rights Act — particularly Section 2 — unfairly advantages Democrats by requiring districts to be drawn based on race, rather than geography or population. While the Supreme Court has repeatedly upheld Section 2 in the past, voting rights advocates fear that the current 6–3 conservative majority could now be open to reversing that precedent.

LaTosha Brown, co-founder of Black Voters Matter Fund, warned that removing Section 2 would lead to “a one-party system where power serves the powerful and silences the people.” Fair Fight Action CEO Lauren Groh-Wargo urged Democrats to fight back by redrawing maps where possible and preparing to pass new voting protections.

The states likely to be most affected by the ruling include Alabama, Georgia, Texas, Louisiana, and other Southern states with significant minority populations. While a decision may not arrive before the next election, experts warn that the case’s outcome could reshape the U.S. political landscape for decades to come.