Lt. Gov. Hosemann says redistricting coming to Mississippi

Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann told a crowd at the Neshoba County Fair on Wednesday that lawmakers will move forward with redistricting in Mississippi following the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Callais v. Louisiana. Hosemann said the work will include legislative, state Supreme Court and congressional maps.

Hosemann, a Republican, criticized Democrats for turning to the courts to influence electoral maps. “When we tried to redistrict Mississippi, the way your Legislature, the people you hired wanted to redistrict Mississippi, the federal courts said, ‘No, you can’t do it that way,'” he told attendees under the Founders Square pavilion, according to Magnolia Tribune.

Magnolia Tribune reported that lawmakers the publication spoke with Wednesday expected Gov. Tate Reeves to call a special session later this year to address legislative redistricting ahead of the start of qualifying for the 2027 election cycle on Jan. 2. The report said state Supreme Court and congressional redistricting could then be considered during the 2027 regular legislative session.

Asked whether he wanted the Legislature to redistrict to oust U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, the lone Democrat representing Mississippi at the federal level, Hosemann declined to single out members of Congress. “I’m not getting into one congressman or another congressman,” he said. He also said race should not be considered in drawing districts and that lawmakers would look at population numbers when drawing new maps, a position he said a majority of justices took in the Callais decision.

As Senate leader, Hosemann said he has appointed a select committee led by Senate Pro Tem Dean Kirby, and he expects hearings across the state before the Legislature adopts new maps. He also used his remarks to tout state tax cuts, education gains and infrastructure work, and to praise the state’s economic development efforts and Gov. Reeves, according to Magnolia Tribune.

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