Brooke Thornton

For NPR News, I'm Brooke Thornton in Baton Rouge.

Republican lawmakers raced to eliminate one of the two majority black seats after the U.S.

Supreme Court ruled the current map unconstitutional.

That decision further weakened a central part of the Voting Rights Act.

Democratic State Senator Royce DuPlessis expressed his frustration with the process and a map that dilutes the black vote.

Republican Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry is expected to sign off on the map before the legislative session ends on Monday.

For NPR News, I'm Brooke Thornton in Baton Rouge.

Several individuals had to be removed from the Capitol after the Louisiana House passed a 5-1 congressional map in favor of Republicans.

Black lawmakers like Democratic Representative Denise Marcell say the new map is a disappointment.

It's frustrating to be here during this time.

It's like we're going backwards and I'm really frustrated.

The vote comes one month after the U.S.

Supreme Court struck down the state's prior map, which had two majority black districts, and it weakened the Voting Rights Act.

Louisiana's new map keeps a single majority black district in place.

For NPR News, I'm Brooke Thornton in Baton Rouge.

The vote comes after the Supreme Court decision last month that weakened the Voting Rights Act.

State Senator Jay Morris backed the plan.

Democratic State Senator Royce DuPlessis says the redistricting was rushed at the behest of President Trump.

The bill now heads to the statehouse.

Louisiana is holding primary elections this weekend, but votes in the affected congressional districts won't be counted.