LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) -- State Sen. Gerald Boudreaux (D-Lafayette) has announced he is not running for Congress in the newly drawn 6th District.

The new district is the result of a two-year battle to provide voters with a second majority-Black district in the state.

"As the Minority Leader of the Louisiana State Senate and Chairman of the Senate Democratic Caucus, I was honored to join stakeholders from around the state and country in securing the new black congressional seat on behalf of the citizens of Louisiana," Boudreaux said, in a news release. "After a period of discernment and due diligence the timing is not right."

In June 2022, Baton Rouge-based U.S. District Judge Shelly Dick struck down Louisiana’s map for violating the Voting Rights Act. Dick said in her ruling that “evidence of Louisiana’s long and ongoing history of voting-related discrimination weighs heavily in favor of Plaintiffs.”

Under the 2022 map, which was used in the last election, there was one majority-Black district — the 2nd District, which encompasses most of New Orleans and stretches to Baton Rouge, and is represented by U.S. Rep. Troy Carter. Carter is the state’s sole Black and Democratic member of Congress.

Under the new map, 54% of the voting-age population in the district would be Black — up from the current 23%.

Boudreaux said that since 36% of the district is in the Baton Rouge area, electing someone from outside the capital would be a "steep hill to climb."

The incumbent in the 6th District, Garret Graves, has already announced he is not running for the seat.

"I want to express my gratitude for all of the prayers, outreach, and support as we assessed our possible candidacy in the newly created sixth congressional district," Boudreaux said.

Election day is set for Nov. 5. Qualifying is set for July 17-19.

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