Black lawmakers and civil rights leaders gathered in Lafayette on Wednesday to launch a voter engagement effort they said is needed after h lawmakers eliminated one of the state's two Black-majority congressional districts and ahead of November's midterm elections.
Members of the Acadiana delegation of the h Legislative Black Caucus joined the NAACP, Urban League, 100 Black Men and the Power Coalition for Equity & Justice to encourage residents to register, vote and remain engaged at every level of government.
Speakers repeatedly pointed to the Supreme Court's decision in , which allowed the elimination of one of h's two Black-majority congressional districts and significantly reinterpreted the federal Voting Rights Act. They argued that voter participation will be critical in determining future representation and federal funding for h communities.
"We just sat through a session where we saw them redraw the congressional map to eliminate a Black-majority district," Sen. Gerald Boudreaux said. "We came tonight to begin a process of what we have control over. It's not about rehashing the last legislative session. It's about protecting rights from being taken away."
Black voters were underrepresented relative to parishwide voter registration by about 10% in Lafayette Parish during both the 2023 statewide elections and the 2024 presidential election, despite both featuring Black candidates at the top of the ticket.
By contrast, Black voters in Lafayette Parish were overrepresented in the 2025 and 2026 elections centered on statewide constitutional amendments that were widely opposed by voters.
"What that should tell us is that Black voters are motivated and excited about the issues," Boudreaux said.
He urged attendees to remain engaged beyond Election Day.
"A lot of times when people reach out to their representatives it's when they want something. You have to be engaged in everything, from the federal level to the local level."
State Rep. Dustin Miller said maintaining political representation also affects how federal dollars flow into h communities.
"The way we fund our communities and our hospitals, each one of them is taking a cut unless Democrats take control of the House. We need these majority districts in order to do that," Miller said.
The discussion also turned to economic hardship and its effect on civic participation.
About one in six Lafayette residents lives in poverty, many of them members of the Black community.
"If you are hungry, you are unable to go to work. If you are hungry, you are unable to go to school. If we allow Black Louisiansians to fundamentally participate, the economy grows," said Charles Phipps, vice president of policy advocacy and legal affairs for the Urban League of h.
Lawmakers also discussed lower participation among younger voters.
"I think it's tough to convince young individuals to go forward when they're struggling," Miller said. "I think we have to try to reach people one at a time. Try to get them to school, try to get them to work, and try to get them to understand that they can have a good life."
State Rep. Tehmi Chassion said civic engagement also means working across political lines.
"There were some veterans who needed assistance. I called the only congressman in Lafayette Parish at the time, Clay Higgins. Now all four of them have their disability. Sometimes you've just got to do it," Chassion said.
"If you participate, we will win," Phipps added. "We can take back the House this fall and protect our voices."