States did not wait for ink to dry on the Supreme Court’s ruling over Louisiana’s congressional map. In several places, political leaders had already begun moving pieces into place, anticipating a decision that would curb how race can be used in redistricting.

The ruling, issued Wednesday, narrows the role of race in drawing electoral boundaries and chips away at a cornerstone of the Civil Rights era that helped expand minority representation in Congress.

Some Republican-led states had been preparing for exactly this outcome. In both Florida and Mississippi, governors had lined up special legislative sessions tied directly to the court’s expected direction, signaling how consequential the decision would be for maps nationwide.

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Here is how key states are reacting according to AP’s report:

Florida

Within hours of the decision, Florida lawmakers advanced a new congressional map that could tilt several additional seats toward Republicans in the November midterms.

Gov. Ron DeSantis had already convened a special session focused on redistricting, acting before the court formally ruled but betting on its outcome. Earlier in the week, he introduced a revised map that reshapes a district in southeastern Florida. He argued the previous version had been designed to elect a Black representative in order to satisfy the federal Voting Rights Act.

“Properly understood, the Fourteenth Amendment forbids the government from divvying up the citizenry based in whole or in part upon race,” DeSantis wrote in letter Monday to lawmakers.

That position runs into tension with Florida’s own constitution. Voters approved an amendment in 2010 barring maps that weaken minority voters’ ability to elect candidates of their choice. DeSantis has maintained that provision conflicts with the U.S. Constitution, though its fate remains unresolved. Legal experts note the Supreme Court’s latest ruling does not automatically nullify state-level protections against racial discrimination in redistricting.

Mississippi

In Mississippi, Gov. Tate Reeves had already set a timeline. He announced plans for a special session to redraw state Supreme Court districts, scheduled to begin 21 days after the high court’s ruling.

The move follows a federal court order requiring new maps after finding that existing districts diluted Black voting strength in violation of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. Lawmakers had delayed action while awaiting clarity from the Louisiana case, and their regular session has since concluded.

Reeves tagged the Supreme Court’s decision as a needed benchmark, saying it would guide legislators on whether “race-conscious redistricting” violates the Constitution.

Louisiana

The state at the center of the case now faces its own timing crunch. Lawmakers had already pushed back primary elections to allow room for a ruling, but the decision arrived later than many expected.

With early voting set to begin Saturday, uncertainty hangs over whether the legislature can redraw districts before the general election. State leaders say they are still assessing their options.

House Speaker Phillip DeVillier and Senate President Cameron Henry said in a statement that they are reviewing the ruling and consulting with others “to determine next steps to be taken in the best interests of Louisiana voters and our state.” Republican Gov. Jeff Landry said he is also in discussions with legislative leaders.

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Alabama

Alabama’s situation is complicated by an existing court order. A federal panel required the state to adopt a new map in 2023 that produced a second Black-majority or near-majority district, leading to the election of another Black member of Congress. That map is set to remain in place until after the 2030 census.

Still, state officials see an opening. Attorney General Steve Marshall welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision and indicated the state would move quickly to apply it.

He said he will “act as quickly as possible to apply this ruling to Alabama’s redistricting efforts and ensure that our congressional maps reflect the will of the people, not a racial quota system the Constitution forbids.”

Any immediate shift appears unlikely. Primary elections are approaching, and Gov. Kay Ivey has said there are no plans for a special session at this point.

Tennessee

In Tennessee, the legislative session has already wrapped, but calls for redistricting have resurfaced. U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn urged lawmakers to return and revisit the state’s lone Democratic congressional district, centered in majority-Black Memphis.

Legislative leaders are weighing the idea, though practical hurdles stand in the way. Candidate filing deadlines have passed, and campaigns are already underway ahead of the August primary.

“With the filing deadline passed and qualified candidates already running for election, redistricting congressional seats at this time would present several logistical challenges,” Senate Speaker Randy McNally said.

Illinois

Illinois Democrats, anticipating a rollback of federal protections, moved in the opposite direction. The state House approved a proposed constitutional amendment designed to safeguard the consideration of race in map-drawing.

The measure would elevate the goal of ensuring voters can elect candidates of their choice “on account of race,” even prioritizing coalition or influence districts over traditional criteria like compactness.

For now, the proposal is on hold. Senate President Don Harmon said lawmakers will pause to study the court’s ruling before proceeding.

“The last thing we want is to act in haste and risk unintended consequences down the road,” he said. “Too much is at stake for too many.”

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