The Supreme Court overturned a lower court ruling and approved Louisiana's new congressional map, which includes a second Black majority House district. The decision is seen as a win for Democrats, as it is likely to result in the party gaining an additional seat in the House of Representatives, potentially aiding their efforts to regain control of the chamber in the upcoming elections.
Faculty experts at the George Washington University are available to provide context, commentary and analysis on this matter. If you would like to speak to an expert, please contact GW Media Relations Specialist Tayah Frye at tayah [dot] frye
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Congress
Sarah Binder is a professor of political science. Binder's work focuses on the politics of legislative institutions, including their origins, development and impact on policy outcomes. Her areas of expertise include Congress, Legislative politics, American political economy, and political parties.
Casey Burgat is the director of the Legislative Affairs program at the Graduate School of Political Management and host of its Mastering the Room podcast. Prior to joining GSPM, Burgat was a Senior Governance Fellow at the R Street Institute where his research focused on issues of congressional capacity and reform. Burgat co-authored Congress Explained: Representation and Lawmaking in the First Branch, a textbook on all things Congress.
Chris Warshaw is a Professor of Political Science at the George Washington University. Warshaw is an expert on American politics, representation, public opinion, state and local politics, environmental politics and policy, and statistical methodolgy.
Race and Politics
Jasmine Smith is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at George Washington University. She studies American Politics with a focus on Race, Ethnicity and Politics, political behavior, and representation. Smith’s work examines how Black American’s racial identity shapes political attitudes and behavior, and interactions with political institutions. Her most recent book project, Electability Politics: How and Why Black Americans Vote in Primary Elections asks: How do Black Americans make vote choice decisions in primary elections?
Andrew Thompson is an assistant professor of political science at George Washington University. His research studies how racial demographic changes alter political perceptions and democratic commitments. Further, he explores how racial demographic changes motivate stronger support for anti-democratic practices among the American public. He shows that partisan considerations are central to understanding how Americans process information about the changing U.S. demographic landscape, and how supportive they are of anti-democratic policies.
Imani M. Cheers is an associate professor of digital storytelling and the Interim Senior Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education Office of the Provost. She is also the Director of Academic Adventures for Planet Forward. Cheers is an award-winning digital storyteller, director, producer, and filmmaker. As a professor of practice, she uses a variety of mediums including video, photography, television, and film to document and discuss issues impacting and involving people of the African Diaspora.
Law
Spencer Overton is the Patricia Roberts Harris Research Professor of Law at the George Washington University Law School. Overton is an expert on voting rights, the legality and threats of election deepfakes, AI and voting rights, and multiracial democracy.
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