Governor Tate Reeves has officially scrapped a planned special session intended to redraw Mississippi’s Supreme Court districts. The announcement, made Wednesday, comes as a direct response to a pivotal shift in the legal landscape regarding the state’s judicial boundaries.
The decision to cancel follows a move by the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals to vacate a previous ruling. That earlier court order had mandated Mississippi redraw its Supreme Court map after a lower court found the existing lines diluted Black voting power in violation of the Voting Rights Act.
With that mandate now set aside, Reeves indicated the immediate pressure to convene lawmakers next week has evaporated.
Despite the cancellation, the Governor faced significant internal pressure from within his own party. Several Republican lawmakers, along with former President Donald Trump, had lobbied Reeves to expand the session’s scope to include congressional redistricting. This push is part of a wider effort by the GOP across the South to secure safer seats through map adjustments.
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Trump had previously taken to Truth Social to urge Mississippi Republicans to act, arguing that states should not hold elections under “unconstitutional” maps for the sake of legislative convenience.
Reeves, however, cited logistical hurdles and political risks during a Wednesday morning interview on SuperTalk Mississippi Radio. He noted that attempting to overhaul congressional lines so close to the midterm elections would be incredibly difficult to execute. He also warned that a rushed map could backfire, potentially harming Republican candidates in upcoming contests.
The timing is further complicated by the fact that Mississippi already held its Primary Election in March. This situation mirrors recent developments in Virginia, where the state’s Supreme Court recently struck down a Democratic redistricting effort after primaries had already concluded.
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“It’s complicated,” Reeves said during the radio interview. “Every issue surrounding redistricting is complicated, and I think it is fair to say that we are looking at every potential option as to what they may look like, and when is the best time to look at it.”
While the judicial maps are off the table for now, Reeves made it clear that he still intends to challenge the current congressional setup, specifically targeting the seat held by Democratic Representative Bennie Thompson.
“The tenure of Congressman Bennie Thompson reigning terror on the 2nd Congressional District is over,” Reeves stated. “It’s not a question of if. It’s a question of when.”
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