HARRISBURG, PA – April 29, 2026 − Today, the US Supreme Court issued a decision regarding Louisiana v. Callaisholding that a plaintiff alleging race discrimination under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 will only succeed if it can prove that the state established “strong indicia of intentional discrimination” and apply an impossible legal test that any future plaintiff could thereby meet.
In response Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa offers the following statement:
“The Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus stands for fair, free elections that give all Americans the opportunity to elect leaders who share their values. As we celebrate the nation’s semicentennial, we are reminded of the struggles communities of color have spent decades organizing for inclusion in our political processes, maps that recognize their equal right to elect a representative of their choice, and protection from actors seeking to erase them entirely. Today’s decision deals a tragic blow to the Voting Rights Act and its legal protections afforded to minority voting power. race, our caucus will continue the challenging, necessary work of supporting every Pennsylvanian, regardless of race, ethnicity, ancestry or religion, to ensure representation that reflects the diversity we so value as Americans.”
Learn more about AP Senate Democrats’ commitment to every Pennsylvanian here.
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