Black Voters' Record Turnout Defeated the Callais-Era Gerrymanders, But Democracy Shouldn't Depend on Such Heroics
Source: Madiba K. Dennie. "How Callais brought Black voters to the polls.." November 5, 2026. slate.com
The Gist
The Supreme Court and Republican states tried to weaken Black voters' power through redistricting and the Callais decision, but Black voters turned out in huge numbers and largely defeated the plan. Still, the author warns this shouldn't make anyone think the ruling was fine, because a democracy shouldn't need extraordinary effort from Black voters just to function.
Conclusion
Black voters, mobilized in anger by the Supreme Court's gutting of the Voting Rights Act in Callais and by GOP gerrymandering, were a driving force behind the 2026 Democratic wave and blunted the redistricting scheme; yet this success should not be taken as proof that Callais was harmless, because democracy cannot survive by relying on constant overcoming of racist obstacles.
Premises
- Trump, the Justice Department, and Republican-led states redrew maps to dismantle majority-minority districts, and Callais then gave states a green light to do so by requiring an 'objective likelihood' of intentional discrimination, which partisan motives easily defeat.
- Experts and advocates predicted heavy losses for Black representation (for example, up to 20 of 62 Congressional Black Caucus members at risk) and said only an overwhelming turnout wave could prevent them.
- Turnout in 2026 was historically high (about 48.8% of eligible voters), Black turnout reportedly rivaled Obama-era levels, 91% of Black voters backed Democrats, and a poll of Black women found 87% said the VRA's nullification motivated them to vote.
- Black candidates won despite the new maps (Troy Carter in Louisiana, Shomari Figures in Alabama by 8 points), made statewide gains (Stratton, possibly Colom), and Republicans are expected to gain at most 3 of the 15 seats they targeted.
- A DNC memo describes voters of color as 'the driving force' of the Democratic victory.
- Democracy that depends on persistently overcoming enormous racist obstacles is not sustainable.
Assumptions
- Anger over Callais and gerrymandering, rather than other factors (economic conditions, anti-Trump sentiment, candidate quality), was a major cause of Black turnout and the Democratic wave
- Survey self-reports of motivation reliably reflect actual voting behavior
- Preliminary turnout data and early reports will hold up as final counts come in
- The maps and Callais were intended to disadvantage Black voters, not merely to pursue partisan advantage
- A one-election outcome does not show the VRA ruling is harmless over the long term
- Democratic control of Congress will enable measures to curb the Court and protect voting rights