Almost immediately after the decision was handed down, Mississippi State Auditor Shad White took to social media to note that “this likely opens the door to redrawing Mississippi’s congressional districts. Mississippi might no longer have a district drawn to protect Bennie Thompson.”
Thompson, who represents a significant portion of Western Mississippi including most of the Delta, has been in office since 1993. He calls the Supreme Court’s decision a bad one that has set the country back.
“More specifically, it puts black people in a difficult position,” he said. “They are now being judged by a standard that the rest of the country is not judged by. So, we'll have to see what happens. The aggressiveness that states are calling sessions to look at redistricting, says that there are other motives. If I look at Louisiana, Alabama, and Tennessee as an example, it's obvious this is an effort to deny not just Democrats, but Black people an opportunity to pick the representatives of their choosing.”
Governor Tate Reeves has also taken to social media to call for congressional district lines to be redrawn. Referring to a post of Thompson’s, Reeves wrote the district belongs to the people of Mississippi and that Thompson’s “reign of terror” on Mississippi’s second district is over.
The governor told SuperTalk that he expects redistricting efforts at all levels in Mississippi to occur before the 2027 elections. Thompson stands by his voting record in Congress, and believes he has strong support from his constituents.
“I have always had opponents,” said Thompson. “The good people of this district have reelected me. Seniority in Washington matters. The fact that you have someone there who understands how the process works. When you look at legislation, that's been important to get Mississippi off the bottom. Whether it's health care. Whether it's education, whether it is housing, transportation, public accommodation, economic development, I've always voted for it. My record is higher for trying to get us off the bottom than any other member of the delegation.”
According to census data, more than 66% of the district’s population is African-American. Thompson believes efforts to redraw the state’s four congressional districts could result in a lapse of representation for a significant population.
“I have more concern that 38% of the population of this state is African-American. Why would you want to deny representation by that 38%? To me, that ought to be illegal,” he told MPB.
In the meantime, Agriculture Commissioner Andy Gipson has thrown his support behind Republican congressional candidate Ron Eller for November’s election, writing on social media, “In Mississippi, I am excited we have a real opportunity to defeat radical liberal Bennie Thompson!”
Thompson has emphasized that the current district lines were created by a Republican-majority legislature.
“If Shad White or whomever is upset with black people and want to deny their representation, then I'll be happy to join any organizations or individuals who push back on that kind of attitude,” he said.
White has spoken out against Thompson’s previous role as the Chair of the U.S. House Select January 6th Committee and the efficacy of Thompson’s legacy in office. Still, Congressman Thompson believes the roots of the outcry against him are racially motivated.
“I happen to think that representation matters,” he said. “If you draw 60-plus percent White districts, then what's wrong with drawing 60% Black districts? If you say you want to be fair. That's my challenge to the state of Mississippi, and its officials.”
