Mississippi House and Senate leaders are moving quickly to prepare for a potential special legislative session after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Louisiana’s congressional redistricting plan. House Speaker Jason White and State Senator Brice Wiggins directed legislative attorneys to analyze the ruling’s implications for Mississippi’s own redistricting efforts, according to sources.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled 6-3 that Louisiana relied too heavily on race when creating a new majority-minority district, deeming such racial gerrymandering unconstitutional under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. The decision could influence how Mississippi approaches its district maps, especially for the state Supreme Court, where district lines are under legal challenge.
Governor Tate Reeves announced last Friday that he would call lawmakers into a special session 21 days after the ruling. The session aims to address state Supreme Court redistricting, following a federal judge’s order to redraw districts used for judicial elections. The challenge to these districts was filed in 2022 by civil rights organizations and state officials, including Senate Minority Leader Derrick Simmons.
Attorneys for the state have appealed the federal court’s order, with lawmakers not yet complying with the directive to redraw the districts during the regular session. Reeves said he believes the legislature should have the first opportunity to redraw the maps, citing federal law and the pending Supreme Court decision. Wiggins noted that the ruling provides guidance for the upcoming session, which could include other issues like pharmacy benefit manager reform.
State leaders, including Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann, expressed support for the ruling, emphasizing that redistricting based on race is flawed and that Mississippi should manage its own elections. Hosemann also thanked former President Donald Trump for appointing judges he described as having common sense.
Meanwhile, Mississippi Democrats criticized the ruling, arguing it limits Black voters’ ability to elect preferred candidates and warns that the decision could lead to weakened districts. Democratic Party Chairman Cheikh Taylor accused Republican leaders of using the ruling as an excuse to undermine racial representation. He also criticized Reeves for allegedly planning a special session before the ruling was issued.
Reeves responded that the decision was a victory for the Constitution and affirmed equality under the law. He stated, “It was long past time to end racial redistricting,” adding that the ruling benefits all Americans regardless of race.
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
