On Wednesday morning, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves announced the cancellation of a special legislative session scheduled to redraw the state's supreme court districts next week. However, the Republican governor indicated that he expects the state to redraw its four congressional districts in the near future.
Reeves Cites Challenges for 2026 Midterms
During an appearance on SuperTalk radio, a conservative talk radio network, Reeves stated that redrawing congressional districts in time for the November 2026 midterm elections would be difficult, particularly in a way that benefits Republicans. He noted that doing so might inadvertently hurt Republican candidates in congressional races.
Mississippi held its primary elections for congressional seats in March, prior to the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Louisiana v. Callais. That decision narrowed a key protection of the Voting Rights Act and prompted several Republican-led states to reconfigure their electoral maps. An immediate redrawing of Mississippi's congressional districts aimed at eliminating Democratic seats would likely invalidate primary results and could make firmly Republican areas more competitive by adding more Democratic voters.
Reeves Clarifies Timeline for Redistricting
In a post on X following the news, Reeves wrote, “Just to clarify, I said I expect lawmakers to redraw congressional lines BETWEEN NOW and 2027 elections! I also expect them to redraw legislative and Supreme Court lines between now and 2027 elections!”
Reeves made clear his desire to redraw congressional districts, specifically targeting the seat held by Democratic Congressman Bennie Thompson. He said he is working with the Trump administration on the timing and method for redrawing both congressional and legislative districts. “It is not a question of if, it’s a question of when,” Reeves said, referring to the redrawing of Thompson’s district.
Thompson, Mississippi's sole Democratic member of Congress, is the longest-serving Black elected official in both Mississippi and the U.S. Congress. He represents the state's second congressional district, which stretches about 275 miles and encompasses much of the predominantly Black Mississippi Delta.
