Democratic House leader Hakeem Jeffries is alleging “voter suppression” after the retirement from Congress of a Louisiana Democrat whose predominantly Black congressional district was redrawn by Republicans.
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“On two separate occasions, Republicans have deployed undemocratic gerrymandering tactics to target and wipe out districts represented by Rep. [Cleo] Fields and deny equal representation to Black Louisianans,” Mr. Jeffries, New York Democrat, said in a statement Friday.
Mr. Fields has had two stints in Congress: one from 1993 to 1997, and another since 2025. He has also served multiple terms in the state’s Senate.
In May, Louisiana Republican Gov. Jeff Landry signed into law a new map redrawing his district after the Supreme Court ruled that a previous state map with two majority-Black districts was an “unconstitutional racial gerrymander.”
History is repeating itself, as Mr. Fields also ended his first stint in Congress after a court ordered his district redrawn.
“House Democrats will continue our fight to deliver fair Congressional maps, defend the integrity of our elections and end voter suppression once and for all,” Mr. Jeffries said.
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Mr. Jeffries has supported pro-Democratic gerrymandering efforts in states such as Virginia and Maryland.
Mr. Fields, 63, announced earlier in the week his decision to retire from Congress and seek a return to the state Senate rather than face likely defeat in a bid for reelection to the U.S. House.
“I wouldn’t say it’s a step down,” he told reporters Friday. “I come back to the state because this is where I feel like I’ve been most effective. … It’s much easier to get things done for the people you represent when you’re here.”
The new filing deadline for candidates to seek election in the redrawn seat is Aug. 7.
The Cook Political Report, a political forecaster, updated its rating of the seat from “solid Democratic” to “solid Republican” in June.
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