On April 29, 2026, in Louisiana v. Callais, the Supreme Court invalidated a Louisiana congressional map, holding that racial considerations cannot predominate in the drawing of electoral districts. The ruling narrowed Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 by requiring plaintiffs to show intentional discrimination, not just discriminatory effects. In this episode, we explore the Court’s 6-3 decision and what it means for the future of the Voting Rights Act with two leading election law scholars: Edward Foley of The Ohio State University and Michael Morley of Florida State University College of Law. Julie Silverbrook, chief content and learning officer at the National Constitution Center, moderates.
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This episode was produced and mixed by Bill Pollock. With production support from Charles Sahm. Research was provided by Anna Salvatore, Trey Sullivan, and Tristan Worsham.
Participants
Edward B. Foley holds the Ebersold Chair in Constitutional Law at The Ohio State University, where he directs its election law program, and is widely recognized as one of the foremost experts on election law. He is also currently a visiting professor at the University of Arizona. During the 2024–25 academic year, he was a Crane Fellow in Law and Public Policy at Princeton University, and in 2023 received a Guggenheim Fellowship.
Michael T. Morley is the Sheila M. McDevitt Professor of Law and faculty director of the Election Law Center at Florida State University College of Law. He teaches and writes in election law, constitutional law, remedies, and the federal courts. Morley’s research focuses on election emergencies, the constitutional right to vote, and the Electoral Count Act, as well as equitable powers of the federal courts.
Julie Silverbrook is chief content and learning officer at the National Constitution Center, where she leads the strategy, development, and delivery of the Center’s content, public programs, and educational initiatives, advancing its mission of nonpartisan constitutional education and civil dialogue. She oversees the creation of public-facing constitutional content and works to ensure the Center’s programs, scholarly engagement, and educational resources operate as a coordinated national strategy serving students, educators, families, and lifelong learners across the country.
Additional Resources
- Edward Foley, “The Supreme Court’s indefensible evisceration of the Voting Rights Act,” SCOTUSblog, May 5, 2026
- Michael Morley, “Voting Rights Case Sets Stage for 2050’s Multiracial Democracy,” Bloomberg Law, May 6, 2026
- Louisiana v. Callais (2026)
- Allen v. Milligan (2023)
- Robinson v. Ardoin (2022)
- Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee (2021)
- Shelby County v. Holder (2013)
- Thornburg v. Gingles (1986)
- Voting Rights Act (1965)
- National Constitution Center, “The Supreme Court’s Callais decision sets new framework for racial gerrymandering” (April 30, 2026)
- National Constitution Center, Voting Rights Classroom Resources
- National Constitution Center, Elections and Voting in the Constitution (Constitution 101 Curriculum)
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