Louisiana Rep. Garret Graves to Retire Following Redistricting Battle

Louisiana Representative Garret Graves made an announcement on Friday, June 14, stating that he will not be seeking re-election. This decision comes after a recent redistricting battle that was resolved by the Supreme Court.

In his official statement, the Republican lawmaker cited the redistricting issue as the primary reason for his decision. He expressed that running for Congress in the current temporary district scenario would cause significant and permanent damage to Louisiana's representation in Congress.

He emphasized that campaigning in any of the existing districts would be unfair to the people of Louisiana, who would likely be reassigned to new districts next year, due to ongoing redistricting processes.

Background and Legal Battle

Garret Graves, who has been serving as a Congressman since 2014, won re-election in 2022, representing a district covering parts of southern Louisiana near Baton Rouge and New Orleans. However, legal disputes surrounding redistricting clouded his prospects for the 2024 elections.

The Supreme Court's May ruling allowed the state to implement a congressional map with a second majority-Black district, leading to alterations in the boundaries of existing districts, including the one represented by Graves.

Impact and Turnaround

The decision by Graves to not seek re-election marks a rapid change of plans. Just last month, the lawmaker had expressed his intention to run for re-election and remained optimistic about the future of his district.

Following Graves' announcement, former Speaker Kevin McCarthy praised him, stating that his departure would be a significant loss for the conference and the entire House. McCarthy acknowledged Graves as a loyal friend and highlighted his substantial contributions.

House Dynamics

With Graves' decision, a notable number of House lawmakers have opted not to seek re-election this year. He becomes the 25th House Republican to announce his non-participation in the upcoming elections, whether due to retirement or seeking other offices. Democrats also have an equal number of House lawmakers not seeking re-election in November.