3 weeks ago
On Wednesday morning, Mississippi’s governor, Tate Reeves, said that he is canceling a typical legislative convention that was scheduled to redraw nan state’s ultimate tribunal districts adjacent week. However, Reeves, a Republican, noted that he does expect nan authorities to redraw its 4 legislature districts astatine immoderate constituent successful nan adjacent future.
Reeves, successful an quality connected SuperTalk radio, a blimpish talk power network, besides said that it would beryllium difficult for nan authorities to redraw nan legislature districts successful nan Republicans favour successful clip for nan upcoming midterm elections, slated for November. Doing truthful mightiness besides wounded Republicans successful legislature races.
Mississippi held its superior elections for legislature seats successful March, earlier nan ultimate court’s Louisiana v Callais ruling, which narrowed a cardinal protection of nan Voting Rights Act and spurred a number of Republican-led states to reconfigure their maps. But an contiguous redrawing of nan Mississippi’s legislature districts pinch nan extremity of eliminating Democratic seats would much than apt mean invalidating its superior results and making firmly Republican areas much competitory by adding much Democratic voters instead.
In a station connected X pursuing nan news, Reeves wrote, “Just to clarify, I said I expect lawmakers to redraw legislature lines BETWEEN NOW and 2027 elections! I besides expect them to redraw legislative and Supreme Court lines betwixt now and 2027 elections!”
Reeves made it clear that he wants nan authorities to redraw its legislature districts, specifically targeting Democratic congressman Bennie Thompson’s seat. He said that he is moving pinch nan Trump management connected erstwhile and really nan authorities should redraw legislature and legislative districts.
“It is not a mobility of if, it’s a mobility of when,” Reeves said of redrawing nan state’s legislature territory pinch a attraction connected Thompson’s district.
Thompson, nan state’s lone legislature Democrat, is besides nan longest-serving Black elected charismatic successful Mississippi and successful Congress. He represents Mississippi’s 2nd legislature district, astir 275 miles long, which encompasses overmuch of nan Mississippi Delta, an area that is predominantly Black.
