Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves announced Wednesday (May 13) that he is canceling a special legislative session on redistricting that was scheduled for May 20, according to Mississippi Today.
Reeves previously ordered legislators to meet for a special session in the wake of the Supreme Court’s ruling in Louisiana on April 29, which ended provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and has led several Southern states to propose new congressional maps essentially erasing majority-Black districts.
The governor explained in the latest episode of the radio show SuperTalk Mississippi that it would be difficult to redraw congressional lines in time for the midterms due to the late-minute addition of congressional redistricting to the meeting.
In 2025, U.S. District Judge Sharion Aycock ruled that one of Mississippi’s three Supreme Court districts violated the Voting Rights Act of 1965, per the outlet, and had ordered the legislature to redraw its judicial maps, per Mississippi Today.
Even though a recent ruling by the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals overturned Aycock’s order, a joint request from the plaintiffs and the state asked the lower court to remand the case for further legal work, arguing that the Supreme Court maps still violated federal law even after the Louisiana case.
Reeves added congressional redistricting to the agenda after being urged by President Donald Trump and other Mississippi lawmakers to propose a map that would erase the state’s second congressional district, represented by Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson.
However, Mississippi already held its primary elections in March, meaning the state would have to invalidate those results and hold an entirely new round of elections before the midterms.
“It’s complicated,” Reeves said. “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.”
Despite calling off the session, Reeves clarified that he is still working with Trump to add congressional redistricting to the next session and eliminate Thompson’s seat in the near future.
“The tenure of Congressman Bennie Thompson reigning terror on the 2nd Congressional District is over,” Reeves said. “It’s not a question of if. It’s a question of when.”
Thompson has represented the second district, which is about 38% Black according to the most recent census, since 1993. He defeated two Democratic challengers in the March primary for his 18th term, according to the Clarion-Ledger.
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