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Louisiana’s congressional districts have changed again, and with candidate qualifying beginning this week, voters are trying to figure out exactly what those new maps mean.
In this episode, Michael Lunsford walks through the original map, the court-approved replacement, and the alternative map proposed by Paul Hurd. Along the way, he explains why one of the most important pieces of demographic information disappeared from the official maps—and why Citizens for a New Louisiana rebuilt that data from the precinct level so the public could see it anyway.
Whether you’re simply trying to determine which district you live in or you’re interested in the legal battle that’s reshaping congressional districts nationwide, this episode provides a detailed look at the numbers behind Louisiana’s new map.
Maps used in the video include:
1. The original Cleo map
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1gtMo5QTun6Scn2lsqUNVCV3vY34DXzE
2. The 2026 legislative map
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1R5MQgyyWCUI0CHA0krHDBaFnzEmMwsQ
3. The Paul Hurd map
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1lI0TNV-7PUtdb8TPL2Mp_POVk1EQHb0
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Behind Every Blade of Grass
There’s a running joke around our office that Citizens for a New Louisiana is hiding behind every blade of grass. We’ve heard stories about government officials reconsidering questionable decisions because they were worried we’d find out. That’s a remarkable return on an investment we never made: "reaping where we did not sow, and gathering where we scattered no seed." But there’s something important in here, too.
Our little flashlight has earned us a reputation for bringing things to light. Now many officials act as if someone is watching, even when there isn't. That’s the real value of our government transparency work. It's more than just exposing wrongdoing after the fact. We've created an environment where public officials think twice.
Of course, we can’t actually be behind every blade of grass. There are thousands of public meetings, countless government transactions, and more questionable decisions than our small team could ever hope to investigate. But with your help, we can keep them wondering.
If you believe government works better when someone is paying attention, please consider supporting our work.
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