Bennie Thompson

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Key Figures

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves calls a special legislative session on April 30, 2026, the day after the Supreme Court's Callais ruling, to consider redrawing the state's congressional maps ahead of the 2026 midterms. Mississippi's congressional delegation is currently 3 Republicans and 1 Democrat — Rep. Bennie Thompson, who represents a majority-Black district. The Callais ruling potentially opens Thompson's district to redistricting. Mississippi holds one of the highest proportions of Black residents of any state, at approximately 38 percent of the population, but has sent only one Black member to Congress since Reconstruction under the VRA-mandated district configuration. Thompson, 77, is the longest-serving Black member of Congress.

Mississippi State Senator Kevin Blackwell publicly calls for eliminating Rep. Bennie Thompson's majority-Black 2nd District. Blackwell states: \"It's time to erase Bennie Thompson's District.\"

Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves announces a special legislative session for May 20, leaving the door open to redistricting Congress to target Rep. Bennie Thompson's majority-Black 2nd District. Reeves posts: \"First Dobbs. Now Callais. Just Mississippi and Louisiana down here saving our country!\"

Mississippi State Auditor Shad White publicly calls for redrawing Mississippi's congressional districts to eliminate the state's only majority-Black seat. White states: \"This likely opens the door to redrawing Mississippi's congressional districts. Mississippi might no longer have a district drawn to protect Bennie Thompson.\"

Hours after the Supreme Court hands down its 6-3 decision in Louisiana v. Callais, Mississippi Republican State Auditor Shad White publicly calls for lawmakers to use the ruling to eliminate Mississippi's only majority-Black congressional district — the 2nd, held by Democrat Rep. Bennie Thompson. White posts on social media: \"This likely opens the door to redrawing Mississippi's congressional districts. Mississippi might no longer have a district drawn to protect Bennie Thompson.\" Thompson's 2nd District runs from the Mississippi Delta through Jackson and was originally created to comply with the Voting Rights Act's requirement that Black voters in Mississippi have meaningful representation. Thompson, who led the House January 6 Committee, represents the state's only reliably Democratic seat. White's statement comes alongside a call from Republican state Sen. Kevin Blackwell, who writes: \"It's time to erase Bennie Thompson's District.\" Gov. Tate Reeves has a special legislative session already scheduled for May 20 focused on state Supreme Court districts, which operatives say could be expanded to include congressional redistricting.