NRT briefing
Black House Representation to Fall to 60 After Blue Wave Softens Redistricting Losses
Based on reporting by NPR.
The Brief
An NPR analysis projects the incoming Congress will include 60 Black House members, including nonvoting members, down from 63 currently—one short of the record drop after the 1876 election. High Black voter turnout, especially in the South, fueled Democratic wins that partially offset losses from redistricting.
Rep. Shomari Figures of Alabama won reelection despite a Supreme Court ruling that allowed Republicans to redraw his district to be more GOP-leaning. The ruling in Louisiana v. Callais weakened Voting Rights Act protections. New maps in Texas and Florida dismantled some Black-represented districts, but flips in North Carolina and elsewhere helped. Experts warn future redistricting, including after the 2030 census, poses ongoing threats.
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