Mississippi enacts new congressional districts


Mississippi enacted new congressional districts on Jan. 24 when Gov. Tate Reeves (R) signed the state’s congressional redistricting plan. Mississippi was apportioned four seats in the U.S. House of Representatives after the 2020 census, the same number it received after the 2010 census. This map will take effect for Mississippi’s 2022 congressional elections.

The state House of Representatives approved the plan, 75-44, on Jan. 6 with 73 Republicans, one Democrat, and one independent voting in favor and 41 Democrats, two Republicans, and one independent voting against. The state Senate approved the new congressional map, 33-18, on Jan. 12 with all votes in favor by Republicans and 16 Democrats and two Republicans voting against.

After the state Senate approved the plan, Lee Sanderlin wrote in the Mississippi Clarion Ledger, “The bill preserves the current balance of congressional power in Mississippi, keeping three seats for Republicans and one for lone Democrat Bennie Thompson, D-Bolton.”

As of Jan. 24, 26 states had adopted congressional district maps, two states have approved congressional district boundaries that have not yet taken effect, one state’s map was struck down by the state supreme court, six states were apportioned one congressional district (so no congressional redistricting is required), and 15 states have not yet adopted congressional redistricting plans after the 2020 census. As of Jan. 24, 2012, 32 states had enacted congressional redistricting plans.

Congressional redistricting has been completed for 278 of the 435 seats (63.9%) in the U.S. House of Representatives.