MISSISSIPPI GOVERNOR TATE REEVES HAS CANCELED A SPECIAL SESSION INTENDED TO REDRAW THE STATE’S SUPREME COURT MAPS.
The Republican governor stated he expects state lawmakers to redraw congressional districts between now and the 2027 elections.
“On Monday, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals vacated the opinion finding that Mississippi’s current Supreme Court map violated the Voting Rights Act and must be redrawn,” Reeves said. “As a result, the injunction preventing Mississippi from using the current Supreme Court map was dissolved. This means Mississippi’s current map can still be used in all future elections.”
“While I always believed that the District Court’s opinion was erroneous and eventually would be overturned on appeal, to preserve the Mississippi Legislature’s right under both state and federal law to have the first opportunity to redraw the Supreme Court map, I set a special session of the Mississippi Legislature that would have begun next Wednesday,” Reeves added. “However, because the District Court’s injunction has been dissolved and the current Supreme Court map again is in full force and effect, there is no need for the Legislature to draw a new map.”
Reeves also recalled and dissolved his April 23, 2026 proclamation that called for a special session to redraw Mississippi’s Supreme Court map next Wednesday.
During an appearance on SuperTalk radio, Reeves noted it would be difficult for the state to redraw congressional districts in Republicans’ favor by the November midterms. Such action could also harm Republican candidates in congressional races.
Mississippi held primary elections for congressional seats in March—prior to the Supreme Court’s Louisiana v. Callais ruling—which narrowed key Voting Rights Act protections and spurred Republican-led states to reconfigure maps. Reeves warned that immediate redrawing of Mississippi’s congressional districts to eliminate Democratic seats would likely invalidate primary results and make firmly Republican areas more competitive by adding Democratic voters.
Mississippi’s congressional delegation includes three Republicans and one Democrat in the House. Future redistricting efforts will target the state’s lone Democratic seat, held by Rep. Bennie Thompson.
Many in Republican circles have urged Reeves to add congressional redistricting to a special session ahead of November elections. However, given Mississippi already conducted its primary elections—unlike most states—a move would be complicated.
Reeves downplayed any “pressure” or “encouragement” from the White House regarding congressional redistricting at this stage. He stated no one is working more closely with the White House on a congressional redistricting plan than he is.
“Understand something,” Reeves said. “While it may be in some individual politicians’ interest to discuss congressional redistricting, what happens in Mississippi doesn’t happen in a vacuum. I am going to do what’s best for Mississippi and what’s best for America—and work very closely with the Trump administration to accomplish both.”
