Mississippi lawmakers have initiated the process of potentially redrawing the state's legislative, congressional, and judicial districts in response to a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that altered minority voting protections. The Joint Redistricting and Reapportionment Committee, comprising members of the House and Senate, held its inaugural meeting Monday at the state Capitol.

The committee announced it will gather public input over the next two months through eight hearings scheduled in various locations across Mississippi. The input will inform decisions on how districts should be redrawn in light of the Supreme Court's ruling in Louisiana v. Callais.

Attorneys from Butler Snow have been hired to serve as general counsel for the committee. Republican Sen. Dean Kirby of Pearl was elected chairman, and Republican Rep. Noah Sanford of Collins was named vice chair.

Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann stated that the committee needs to conduct its work and hear from the public before any decisions are made about which districts might be redrawn or if all types of districts will be affected. "I don’t want to pre-suppose anything," Hosemann said. "The committee needs to do its work. They’re going to be going all over Mississippi hearing from people."

Despite the scheduled hearings, some voting rights advocates expressed skepticism. Amir Badat, Southern states director and senior adviser for Fair Fight Action, described the process as an attempt to diminish Black political power, asserting that public meetings would not alter this fundamental aim. "At its core, this process is an effort to diminish Black political power," Badat said. "No number of meetings or public hearings will change that fact. If the joint committee truly cared about what the public wants, it would end this sham process before it begins."

This redistricting process follows a voting-rights town hall held over the weekend, organized by Mississippi's Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, Scott Colom. The event featured U.S. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland and U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, along with Mississippi NAACP Director Charles Taylor. Attendees were encouraged to register to vote, help others register, and participate in record numbers.

Senator Alsobrooks urged Mississippians to "stay the course and keep fighting" against efforts to weaken majority Black districts, referencing historical struggles for voting rights.

If congressional redistricting is undertaken, U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, Mississippi's sole Black and Democratic representative in Washington, could see his district, which includes parts of the Jackson metro area and the majority-Black Delta region, targeted by the Republican-controlled state Legislature. State Auditor Shad White has previously suggested dismantling Thompson's district.

Thompson indicated that his campaign team would monitor the hearings and expressed hope for genuine public input. "I hope their work will be done in public and not behind closed doors," Thompson said.

The committee's public hearing schedule is as follows:

  • Aug. 18 at Itawamba Community College in Tupelo
  • Aug. 27 at Northwest Mississippi Community College in Senatobia
  • Sept. 1 at Delta State University in Cleveland
  • Sept. 8 at Alcorn State University in Natchez
  • Sept. 10 at a venue to be determined in Meridian
  • Sept. 17 at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg
  • Sept. 22 at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in Gulfport
  • Sept. 24 at the state Capitol building in Jackson