Mississippi Gov. Reeves Cancels Redistricting Session After Court Ruling

Republicans seeking to maintain control of the U.S. House suffered a setback Wednesday when Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said he would not immediately pursue redistricting after a key Supreme Court ruling. Officials aim to remove Bennie Thompson, the Democratic leader of the January 6 probe.

Several Republican-led states have redrawn congressional maps since the Supreme Court's Callais ruling on the role of race in redistricting. Lawmakers in Jackson prepared for a special session next week to redraw state Supreme Court and possibly congressional districts. Reeves canceled it after a judge's ruling against the court district maps—which blocked Black candidates—was overturned.

"Understand something, that maybe while it may be in the best interest of some individual politicians in Mississippi to talk about congressional redistricting, what happens in Mississippi doesn’t happen in a vacuum," Reeves said on talk radio Wednesday. "I’m going to do what’s in the best interest of Mississippi and I’m going to do what’s in the best interest of America and I’m going work very closely with the Trump administration to accomplish both of those goals."

Reeves denied flip-flopping on congressional redistricting. He noted Mississippi's March 10 primary had passed, which complicates changes to voting districts. He supported ending Thompson's 33-year "reign of terror."

Reeves said the delay does not hinder State Auditor Shad White's effort to change Mississippi's congressional delegation from 3-1 Republican to 4-0 and remove Thompson. Thompson, a Democrat from Hinds County seeking an 18th term in the largely Black and poor Delta region, faces risk of losing his safe Democratic seat once redistricting starts.

Thompson and Reeves traded barbs on X. Thompson showed an elephant painting Mississippi "white." Reeves said Thompson wrongly claimed the district as "my" instead of the people's.

Voting rights activist Scott Presler said changes must occur before the 2026 elections. Pastor William Pierce of Columbia drew a map with four evenly divided Republican districts of 22 to 24 points. Reeves said the question is not "if" but "when," with changes set for the 2027 statewide elections.

White told Fox News Digital he was the first statewide official to call publicly for targeting Thompson and creating a 4-0 map. Reeves rejected claims of pressure from the White House or Republican Party.

Before the Callais ruling, Reeves posted on Instagram that he rarely makes news on Friday afternoons but called the session 21 days after the decision. White, known for anti-fraud probes, called Thompson "the worst congressman in America."

"Among Mississippians; normal taxpayers, Bennie Thompson is incredibly unpopular," White said. "As chair of the January 6 Committee, anyone who supports President Trump is not happy that Bennie Thompson represents a part of our state."

White said it is "absolutely both legally and practically possible" to create a 4-0 map. He cited the Callais ruling and Alabama's approval of its Livingston Map. Officials have dozens of prepared maps, some with even Trump support of 15 points or more in each district based on 2024 results.

"The real question is just whether our politicians here have the courage to actually get Bennie Thompson out. And that question remains unanswered right now," White said.

Thompson told Jackson's NBC affiliate that Republicans drew the maps since his 1992 election. He said his record on health care, housing and education sets him apart, and opponents target him because he is Black.

Thompson called current efforts "Jim Crow 2.0" and vowed to fight back. He noted Mississippi's history of needing federal intervention for Black voting rights.

White hopes Thompson faces redistricting soon, even if not next week. State Sen. Michael McLendon, R-Hernando, backed the push to give House Speaker Mike Johnson another seat and send Thompson home.

McLendon dismissed timing concerns, noting Democrats sued successfully to redraw his district, costing Republicans their supermajority. "When Democrats demanded redistricting, the establishment’s response was simple: ‘We have a court order, and we’re going to comply.’ Now, suddenly, many of those same voices have gone completely silent,"

U.S. Rep. Mike Ezell, R-Pascagoula, said redistricting is for Jackson lawmakers. He trusts them to follow the law. Senate Minority Leader Derrick Simmons, D-Greenville, and House Minority Leader Robert Johnson III did not comment.

The delay dims hopes for a 4-0 map before midterms. Johnson in Louisiana loses a potential pickup amid Republican retirements and voter concerns over Trump.