Voters from 15 legislative districts in Mississippi are set to participate in special elections this November, contingent on the approval of two redistricting maps by a federal court. These maps received legislative approval on Wednesday despite facing opposition from some Democrats and representatives from DeSoto County, where major demographic changes are being proposed.
The redistricting efforts have introduced a new majority-Black House district in Chickasaw County and two new majority-Black Senate districts in DeSoto and Lamar counties. “I believe the approach we took will meet the court’s requirements,” stated Senate President Pro Tempore Dean Kirby regarding the Senate’s redistricting plan.
Although legislative elections took place in 2023, adjustments to some districts were necessitated after a federal panel found that the legislature failed to create sufficient Black-majority districts in their 2022 redistricting efforts. Consequently, the Senate’s current plan carves out new majority-Black districts in DeSoto County and the Hattiesburg region, leaving no senator incumbents in these newly formed areas. This redistricting also results in two incumbent senators competing in the revised configuration of northwest Mississippi.
In this redistricting proposal, Sen. Michael McLendon, a white Republican from Hernando, and Sen. Reginald Jackson, a Black Democrat from Marks, are both positioned within a district characterized by a 52.4% Black voting-age demographic. This district spans portions of DeSoto, Tunica, Quitman, and Coahoma counties. McLendon has expressed strong opposition, criticizing a lack of transparency in the remapping process and alleging favoritism towards certain key allies among Senate leaders.
McLendon also introduced an alternative map for DeSoto County and expressed frustration over the Senate leadership’s failure to evaluate it as thoroughly as they did with their proposed plan. “I want my proposal assessed alongside theirs to make a fair comparison,” McLendon remarked, seeking official feedback on the viability of his map.
Kirby countered McLendon’s criticisms, stating his approach aimed to safeguard as many senators as feasible. However, the Senate’s plan has faced further backlash from various House members and DeSoto County officials.
Rep. Dan Eubanks, a Republican from Walls, voiced concerns over the geographical extent of the new northwest district, fearing that adequate representation might be challenging. “Citizens in DeSoto County worry about representation if someone from another part of the district is elected,” Eubanks explained.
Acknowledging these concerns, the DeSoto County Board of Supervisors announced their intention to explore legal actions against the Senate redistricting plan. While Robert Foster, a DeSoto County supervisor, declined to reveal specific strategies, he noted dissatisfaction among local citizens and business leaders.
Meanwhile, House Elections Chairman Noah Sanford, a Republican from Collins, criticized Senate leaders for neglecting his concerns regarding Covington County’s redrawn Senate districts. “It was inappropriate for them to overlook input from those familiar with the areas they’re redrawing,” Sanford asserted.
Kirby clarified that responsibilities for redrawing fell to their respective chambers, and his primary goal was legislative approval aligned with federal legal requirements. The court’s directive entailed minimal changes, focusing on a single House district, thereby limiting dissension among lawmakers. Legislators ultimately opted to revise five districts in north Mississippi, establishing a majority-Black district in Chickasaw County.
Should these changes receive federal endorsement, the qualifying period for the elections is scheduled between May 19 and May 30. The primary elections are set for August 5, potentially followed by a runoff on September 2, leading up to the general election on November 4. Presently, timelines for the federal panel’s review remain undetermined, pending notification from the state’s legal representatives post-map proposal.
