Our Statement on the SCOTUS Voting Rights Act Decision

Yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court delivered a major setback to the Voting Rights Act of 1965, striking down Louisiana’s majority-Black congressional district in a 6-3 ruling that undermines Section 2 of the law — an essential provision designed to protect voters from having their political power diluted.

We are deeply outraged by this decision, and we are clear-eyed about what it means.

Voting rights are a fundamental principle of our American democracy.

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 outlawed literacy tests, racist gerrymandering, and other practices targeting African Americans.  The deliberate attack on the VRA is meant to disenfranchise Black, Brown and Immigrant voters but its dismantling sets a precedent that undermines the rights of all communities.

At The California Endowment, we believe civic engagement and agency are foundational to power, health and racial equity. Our work includes supporting the conditions that enable participation, protecting civic space, investing in community voice, and using our platform to elevate the importance of engagement.

Representation matters. Your voice matters. Your vote matters. A thriving democracy demands nothing less.