Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Ga., stated Thursday that the Supreme Court was correct to strike down Louisiana’s congressional map, calling it a return to the original intent of the Voting Rights Act.
Carter praised the high court’s decision, arguing that recent applications of the law have been misused to justify race-based districting. “I think the Supreme Court got this right, and I applaud their decision,” he said. “The original intent of the Voting Rights Act was to prevent discrimination. What has happened since that time is that it’s just been the opposite.”
He pushed back on criticism from Democrats, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., who called the ruling a threat to democracy and minority representation. “The Dems just don’t get it,” Carter said. “This is not a decision based on discrimination — it’s about preventing discrimination. They’re trying to identify political party by the color of your skin, and you can’t do that. That’s not the America we live in today. The Constitution is colorblind.”
Carter noted Georgia would likely delay revising its congressional maps until 2028 due to the state legislature having adjourned its session. “I think they’ll probably undertake it for 2028,” he said.
In a separate remark, Carter addressed the House’s narrow 215-211 vote to pass a Senate-approved budget resolution that ends the Democrats’ partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security. He emphasized DHS encompasses more than immigration enforcement, highlighting its role in disaster response during recent wildfires in South Georgia. “People think it’s just ICE,” he said. “It’s not.”
Carter accused Democrats of using the funding fight to advance a broader political agenda, stating: “This is nothing more than the Democrats once again trying to extend their ‘defund the police’ approach because they don’t want to fund ICE.”
