On April 24, 2026, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves revealed intentions to convene the state legislature for a special session aimed at redrawing the three judicial districts used for electing Mississippi Supreme Court justices. This session will start 21 days after the U.S. Supreme Court delivers its verdict in Louisiana v. Callais, a case with significant ramifications for the Voting Rights Act and congressional districts based on race.
In a social media post, Reeves highlighted past discussions during the regular legislative session regarding new map configurations. These talks were prompted by a federal judge’s ruling in Mississippi’s Northern District, which is currently under appeal to the 5th Circuit.
“The whole world knows the Supreme Court has yet to release its Callais verdict. This decision has the potential to change how we approach electoral maps,” he stated. He insisted that Mississippi’s legislators should be the first to redraw the districts once the new standards are established post-Callais, emphasizing that they haven’t been afforded a fair chance yet due to the ongoing case.
“Using my constitutional authority, I will empower the Mississippi Legislature to exercise their right to redraw the maps once the guidelines become clear,” Reeves continued. “It’s my hope that the Supreme Court underscores the principle of equality among Americans, rejecting the notion that race-based classifications are valid. The special session will be set for the day that is 21 days following the Callais decision.”
I don’t typically make news on a Friday afternoon, but today I am going to make an exception:
I’m calling a special session.
During the recently completed regular session, the Legislature discussed drawing new maps to comply with a decision from a federal judge from the… pic.twitter.com/wEnFw5xkHk
— Governor Tate Reeves (@tatereeves) April 24, 2026
The special session announcement responds to a federal court order related to the state’s Supreme Court districts, which have remained unchanged since 1987. Currently, Mississippi is segmented into three judicial districts—Northern, Central, and Southern—each providing three justices to the nine-member court.
A ruling in 2025 by U.S. District Judge Sharion Aycock determined that the existing districts, especially the Central District, which encompasses predominantly Black areas, violate Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act by undermining Black voters’ electoral power. This outcome followed a lawsuit initiated in 2022 by organizations including the ACLU.
Mississippi has appealed the ruling to the 5th Circuit, which has paused proceedings until the Supreme Court makes its decision in Louisiana v. Callais. The legal question at hand is whether Louisiana’s establishment of an additional majority-Black congressional district violates the 14th and 15th Amendments as a form of unconstitutional gerrymandering.
A decision is anticipated this summer, and depending on the Supreme Court’s ruling, Mississippi may seek to eliminate its sole Democrat-controlled district, currently held by Rep. Bennie Thompson.
