CAL THOMAS COMMENTARY APRIL 30, 2026
“A VICTORY FOR VOTING RIGHTS” IS THE WAY THE WALL STREET JOURNAL CHARACTERIZED THE SUPREME COURT’S 6-3 DECISION TO RESTRICT THE USE OF RACIAL GERRYMANDERING IN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS.
THE DECISION, WHICH WAS A CONSERVATIVE-LIBERAL SPLIT AMONG THE JUSTICES, WAS ABOUT A CASE IN LOUISIANA, BUT WILL LIKELY HAVE NATIONWIDE IMPLICATIONS. AS THE JOURNAL NOTES, THE DECISION “TOOK A LARGE STEP TOWARD ENDING THE PARTISAN ABUSE OF RACE TO CARVE UP CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS IN A WAY THAT VIOLATES THE CONSTITUTION.”
RACIAL GERRYMANDRING HAS BEEN USED BY DEMOCRATS TO VIRTUALLY GUARANTEE THAT ONLY BLACK DEMOCRATS WILL WIN ELECTIONS TO THE U.S. HOUSE.
THIS UNFAIR PROCEDURE GREW OUF THE 1965 VOTING RIGHTS ACT AND HAS LONG PASSED ITS SELL-BY DATE. THERE ARE MORE BLACKS SERVING IN PUBLIC OFFICE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY THAN EVER BEFORE.
WE ARE CLOSER TO MARTIN LUTHER KING’S DESIRE FOR PEOPLE TO BE JUDGED BY THE CONTENT OF THEIR CHARACTER, RATHER THAN THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN AS WE HAVE EVER BEEN.
THE COURT DID NOT OUTLAW ALL RACIAL GERRYMANDERING, JUST RESTRICTED IT. THE DECISION IS A WELCOME STEP FORWARD TOWARD FAIRNESS AND EQUALITY. I’M CAL THOMAS.
