Louisiana Democrat Bows Out After Supreme Court Slams Gerrymandered District

Rep. Cleo Fields (D-La.) will not seek re-election after the Supreme Court declared his majority-black district an “unconstitutional gerrymander.”

“After a great deal of prayer and reflection, I have decided not to seek re-election, to Congress, in the 6th District or any other district in Louisiana,” said Fields, who is 63 years old. He plans to run for the state Senate, where he previously served nearly 20 years across three separate stints.

This announcement follows the Republican-controlled legislature's redrawing of the congressional map in May, a direct response to the Supreme Court's April 29 ruling that mandated Louisiana create a second majority-black district, citing violations of the 14th Amendment.

The new congressional map alters Fields’ former district, now incorporating predominantly white areas surrounding Baton Rouge instead of the previously included cities of Lafayette and Shreveport.