California Gov. Gavin Newsom went after Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry for suspending the state’s U.S. House primary elections. Landry made the call after early voting had already begun and tens of thousands of ballots had been cast, citing a Supreme Court ruling that struck down the old congressional map. He declared a state of emergency to redraw the districts. Newsom’s X post accusing the governor of racism has sparked intense online debate, with reactions ranging from strong support to sharp pushback over claims of partisan intent versus constitutional compliance.
In the video, Newsom addresses the camera directly while standing behind a podium bearing the California state seal, flanked by American and California flags. He criticizes Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry’s decision to suspend the state’s U.S. House primary elections.
Newsom states that the suspension occurred after tens of thousands of people had already voted, describing it as an effort to redistrict and eliminate Black representation. He calls the action “Jim Crow 2.0” and “Stone Cold Racism on a Scale I Have Never Seen,” adding that it runs counter to the expansion of liberty and freedom. The video does not show events in Louisiana or any voting locations.
According to public records, Landry issued an executive order suspending only the congressional primaries following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that found Louisiana’s previous map unconstitutional due to racial gerrymandering. Early voting had begun, and the order declared a state of emergency to allow time for a new map. Other races on the May ballot were unaffected.
How Users Responded to Newsom’s Racism Allegation Against Louisiana
Some users defended Landry’s move as required by the Supreme Court ruling. One commenter wrote: “You’re completely misrepresenting what happened. The Supreme Court ruled that redistricting based primarily on race is unconstitutional. All of the Democrat districts made that way are unconstitutional. Louisiana is abiding by the Constitution.”
Others accused Newsom of hypocrisy or pointed to his own record. One reply referenced past election processes and said: “Kind of like how you spent TWO “[expletive]” WEEKS counting ballots’ after the 2024 election… Remember, black votes aren’t always Democrat votes.” Another noted: “You literally tried to legalize race discrimination in 2020 and are being sued by the DOJ for continuing to discriminate against white and asian kids at the University of California.”
Several commenters rejected the accusation of racism outright or pushed back against Newsom’s framing. One stated: “It’s not racism, you’re just stupid.” Another wrote: “The funny thing is…. It’s never changed. The Democratic Party has always been the party of self-aggrandizement… If you’re black and you’re Democrat… get off their plantation.”
A smaller group of replies supported Newsom’s characterization, with one saying: “It took less than a week for Republicans all across the south to show the country just how racist they actually are… the pointy white hats and hoods are back in vogue.”
The clip has ignited a broader online debate over redistricting, voting rules, and partisan interpretations of the Supreme Court’s ruling. The conversation continues as Louisiana moves forward with new congressional maps ahead of the elections.
