Three federal judges have ordered Mississippi to redraw some of its legislative districts, citing that the current ones dilute the power of Black voters in key areas of the state. The lawsuit was filed by the Mississippi State Conference of the NAACP and several Black residents in 2022. The judges’ order requires legislators to draw majority-Black Senate districts in DeSoto County, around Hattiesburg, and a new majority-Black House district in Chickasaw and Monroe counties. The ruling emphasizes the importance of equal and fair political participation for Black Mississippians.
Mississippi’s population is approximately 59% white and 38% Black. Currently, 15 of the 52 Senate districts and 42 of the 122 House districts are majority Black, representing only 29% and 34% respectively. The federal judges’ ruling does not create additional districts but requires adjustments to existing boundaries, potentially affecting multiple districts.
The Mississippi attorney general’s office is reviewing the ruling to determine if an appeal will be made. The ruling highlights ongoing challenges around racial divisions in voting patterns, with historical data showing that white-majority districts tend to favor Republicans, while Black-majority districts lean towards Democrats. Similar redistricting challenges have been seen in other states following the 2020 census, with Louisiana and Georgia also facing legal battles over the dilution of minority voting strength in redrawn districts.
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