A blue wave helped offset for now a falling tally of Black members in the U.S. House
NPR reports that a 2026 Supreme Court ruling in Louisiana v. Callais weakening the Voting Rights Act threatened a record drop in Black House representation, but a blue wave in the 2026 midterms — fueled by high Black turnout in the South — helped forestall it for now, including Rep. Shomari Figures' reelection in a redrawn Alabama district. Black House seats are still slated to fall from 63 to 60 in 2027, and advocates warn future redistricting, including after the 2030 census, poses further threats.
