Mississippi House Speaker Jason White announced Wednesday that the chamber will consider redrawing the state’s electoral maps during the 2027 legislative session. White also revealed the formation of six new House select committees to develop policy plans ahead of that session, according to a news release from his office.
One of the committees will focus on districting processes and legal considerations, ensuring transparency and fairness while complying with constitutional requirements, White’s office said. The announcement follows the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision in Louisiana v. Callais, which limited parts of the Voting Rights Act and opened the door for states like Mississippi to eliminate majority-Black districts.
The court’s ruling has intensified debates over redistricting, especially in Southern states. President Donald Trump has urged Mississippi officials to redraw its four congressional districts, aiming to flip Democratic districts to Republicans in this year’s midterm elections. However, since primary elections for Congress have already been held, redrawing districts would require lawmakers and the governor to invalidate those primaries, an unprecedented move.
Some Republican lawmakers have suggested merging Rep. Bennie Thompson’s district, the only Black and Democratic seat in Mississippi’s congressional delegation. White’s announcement comes less than two weeks before a special session called by Republican Gov. Tate Reeves to redraw state Supreme Court districts. It remains unclear how the predominantly white, Republican-led legislature will approach this task, but some predict the Central District, which has the highest percentage of Black voters, may be redrawn to be less diverse.
The six-member redistricting committee will include 11 Republicans and four Democrats, co-chaired by Reps. Noah Sanford and Kevin Horan. White indicated that the committee’s work may influence decisions beyond the upcoming special session, which focuses on court districts. The House previously formed a similar committee on voter rights that failed to produce legislative changes.
White emphasized that the committees aim to address various structural issues, including government efficiency, tax reform, judicial system improvements, and education. The additional committees announced Wednesday also include ones on government efficiency, property taxes, judicial operations, school consolidation, and specialized education programs.
White said these efforts are intended to set clear priorities for the 2027 session and continue conservative leadership initiatives in Mississippi. The state’s 2026 legislative session ended recently without consensus on many key issues, and Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann has yet to announce Senate select committees.
Most of the education-focused efforts from 2026 failed, but White suggested that early planning could help shape future policies. The upcoming redistricting efforts could significantly impact the state’s political landscape, especially in light of recent Supreme Court rulings and federal court decisions.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
