Protesters Gather in Jackson Over Mississippi Redistricting Efforts

Hundreds of protesters gathered at the Mississippi state capitol in Jackson on Thursday evening to oppose Republican-led efforts to redraw congressional and legislative maps. The demonstrations coincided with the final of eight statewide redistricting hearings conducted by a joint committee of 16 Republicans and four Democrats.

Governor Tate Reeves previously called for a special session to redraw maps before canceling it, though he later stated on X that he expects lawmakers to redraw congressional lines before the 2027 elections. The push follows a U.S. Supreme Court decision in Louisiana v Callais that weakened section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.

During the hearing, State Auditor Shad White drew boos from the crowd after criticizing Bennie Thompson, the state's sole congressional Democrat. While current efforts will not affect the upcoming midterm elections, the legislature is expected to convene a special session later this year to redraw legislative maps. Observers suggest Thompson's seat may be targeted before 2028.