Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves has announced that the state will not redraw its congressional maps before the November 2026 midterm elections.
In a Wednesday post on X, Reeves stated he expects Mississippi lawmakers to finalize redistricting for congressional, legislative, and Supreme Court districts by the 2027 elections. Currently, Mississippi’s congressional map includes four districts, one of which is represented by Democrat Bennie Thompson.
The governor canceled a special session scheduled for next week that would have addressed redistricting, following reports he dissolved his April 23, 2026 proclamation calling for the meeting. Reeves clarified: “Just to clarify, I said I expect lawmakers to redraw congressional lines BETWEEN NOW and 2027 elections! I also expect them to redraw legislative and Supreme Court lines between now and 2027 elections.”
Reeves initially appeared open to redistricting before November but later confirmed Mississippi will not pursue map changes ahead of the 2026 midterms. He cited the dissolution of a District Court injunction that had blocked the use of Mississippi’s current Supreme Court map as justification for his decision. The governor emphasized: “There is no need for the Legislature to draw a new map.”
Reeves added, “Today is not the end of the redistricting process—it is just the beginning!” This move comes as Republicans face pressure to secure congressional representation after the midterms, with Mississippi’s current map remaining in place until at least 2027. Other states including California and Virginia are advancing Democratic-leaning maps, while Texas and Florida push for Republican advantages ahead of elections. South Carolina and Missouri have also reportedly initiated their own redistricting efforts this week.
