Lawmakers conclude redistricting hearings with final public comment session at the Mississippi Capitol

Lawmakers conclude redistricting hearings with final public comment session at the Mississippi Capitol.

Key points

• Adds disappointing 29, 000 jobs and unemployment ticks up to 4.2% in September.
• Senator came to Mississippi in 2018 to support rally voters for Mike Espy.
• Senate Scott Colom of Mississippi and Angie Nixon of Florida shared the love Tuesday on X.
• White informed the lawmakers that 2nd District Congressman Bennie Thompson (D) needs to be replaced for the benefit of the Delta.
• State Auditor Shad White was among the speakers on Thursday to voice backing for redistricting legislative and congressional districts after Callais.

Lawmakers conclude redistricting hearings with final public comment session at the Mississippi Capitol. By: Jeremy Pittari – October 2, 2026. (From the livestream on MS Legislature, October 1, 2026).

State Auditor Shad White was among the speakers on Thursday to voice backing for redistricting legislative and congressional districts after Callais. Nevertheless, most of speakers spoke in opposition, calling it a "scam" and pointing to racism.

Meanwhile, the last of a series of hearings to gather public input on potential legislative and congressional redistricting by the Mississippi Legislature concluded at the state Capitol on Thursday.

Since August 18, members of the Joint Committee on Redistricting and Reapportionment have been holding hearings throughout Mississippi to gather input on redrawing voting districts in response to the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in Callais v. Louisiana.

Governor Tate Reeves (R) is remarked to be considering calling a special session prior to January to redraw legislative district lines ahead of the start of qualifying for the 2027 election cycle. Congressional district, then, would presumably be taken up by lawmakers in the 2027 regular session.

During Thursday's hearing, those wishing to speak were provided two minutes to offer their statements in a gathering that lasted for three hours. Committee Chair State Senator Dean Kirby (R) put a 9 p.m. Deadline on the session, stating that anyone who did not have time to provide comment could submit theirs in writing.

Most of individuals who spoke at the Capitol Thursday night stated they resisted any redistricting efforts. Nevertheless, there were a few who called on an end to racial gerrymandering in the state.

Notably, the evening's first speaker was State Auditor Shad White (R). This person is considering a run for governor in 2027. He asked the committee to redraw the lines either in a special session or during the upcoming 2027 regular session.

"So whether it's a special session or a regular session, I just wanted to encourage you to at some point in the near future, take up congressional redistricting, " White remarked. "The Delta has been at the bottom of far too many rankings for far too long, and the Delta deserves better leadership than Bennie Thompson."

White's remarks were met with jeers and boos from a number of attendees in the room.

Leah Ferretti, a member of the Madison County Republican Women, additionally called on lines to be drawn that offer every person in the state a say.

"Draw lines that respect the communities we all have built and draw lines that give the people who live in those communities a meaningful voice in their government, " Ferretti remarked.

Connie Davis pressed the lawmakers to apply "traditional criteria, not racial targets."

"As a Christian, I have been taught to see the heart of individuals. Jesus informed us to love one another, not by the outside, but by the heart." Davis stated. "The government must treat people as individuals and not racial categories."

Evelyn Copeland, a member of the Mississippi Federation of Republican Women, remarked she backed redistricting since the Constitution calls for one vote for each citizen, and not the apply of a system where some people's vote carries more weight.

Most of the commenters took matter with the Legislature even considering redistricting.

State Rep. Chris Bell (D) followed Auditor White at the podium. He voiced backing for Congressman Thompson and suggested his colleagues wait to redistrict until after the 2030 Census results are in, citing skewed results from the previous count in 2020.

"We know, during the past Census that the majority of the people in the state of Mississippi and the United States of America did not fill out a Census form because they did not trust who was in power at the time, " Bell described. "We do not trust the current administration and we did not trust it then."

Tredrick Johnson, president of Omega Psi Fi Mississippi, remarked redistricting now is a scam.

"I am opposed to this fishy, out of sequence redistricting scam, " Johnson remarked. "I'm here to say that this is totally trumped up. Absolutely pun is intended."

Brooke Collins Floyd, pointed to the state's history of racism and how, in her view, it has led to poverty, high taxes, less access to healthcare and lower education spending.

"We know first-hand what happens when race doesn't matter in this state; it looks like an electorate that has never represented what the population reflects, " Floyd remarked.

Keyari Davis, a Jackson State university student studying political science, remarked she sees a correlation to the history she is studying in class and the current push for redistricting.

"We seem to be reverting back to the history of weakening the black vote and voice, silencing those who speak up and making major decisions like this one, while keeping the citizens in the dark, " Davis remarked.

According to Davis, diverse representation is what the residents of Mississippi deserve, but she does not believe the individuals are getting it.

"As I look at the panel in front of me I do not see diverse representation, " Davis continued, pointing to the make-up of the committee.

She was joined by a number of other young college students attending various colleges in the state, all of which spoke in opposition to redistricting. A number of respondents called on the committee to "leave the maps alone." One student applied concerning 30 seconds of her two minutes at the podium to repeat "Leave our maps alone."

Romaine Richards contended that if redistricting was always a consideration, it would have taken place before the Callias decision. She believes something, or someone, else is behind this effort.

"If you truly believe in what you're doing now, it would have started before that case came down from Louisiana, " Richards remarked. "It would have started before the blonde, red-headed, orange-colored person got in office." Regarding the Author(s).

Jeremy Pittari is a lifelong resident of the Gulf Coast. Born and raised in Slidell, La., he moved to South Mississippi in the early 90s. Jeremy earned an associate in arts from Pearl River Community College and went on to attend the University of Southern Mississippi, where he earned a bachelor's of arts in journalism. A week after Hurricane Katrina, he began an internship as a reporter with the community newspaper in Pearl River County. After graduation, he accepted a full-time position at that news outlet where he covered the recovery process post Katrina in Pearl River and Hancock Counties. For almost 17 years he wrote concerning local administration, education, law enforcement, crime, business and a variety of other topics. Email Jeremy: [email protected].

News Frank Corder October 1, 2026.

Cory Booker's coming back to Mississippi to again campaign against Cindy Hyde-Smith.

Meanwhile, the New Jersey U.S. Senator came to Mississippi in 2018 to support rally voters for Mike Espy. Republican U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith defeated Espy by almost 8 points in that race. Now, Booker's coming back to the Magnolia State, this time to back fellow Democrat Scott Colom. More From This Author. News Jeremy Pittari September 30, 2026.

Narcotics unit investigating Ole Miss deaths urges Mississippi lawmakers to act on state's controlled substance laws. News Jeremy Pittari September 30, 2026. Mississippi's chronic absenteeism rate demonstrates decline year over year. News Jeremy Pittari September 29, 2026. Karmacharya, Mississippi Charter School Authorizer Board Executive Director, announces retirement. Culture Frank Corder October 2, 2026. Itawamba Community College choir selected to perform at the White House. Elections Frank Corder September 30, 2026. Colom "blown away" by Democratic Socialist's Florida Senate campaign.

Democrat nominees for U.S. Senate Scott Colom of Mississippi and Angie Nixon of Florida shared the love Tuesday on X. Until now, Colom has sought to distance himself from those who have aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America. Elections Frank Corder September 30, 2026.

Ezell's campaign notes "simple math" indicates the falsity of Boyanton's FEC claims.

In practice, the incumbent Republican Congressman's campaign informed the Federal Election Commission Tuesday that the independent candidate is making false allegations to the federal agency. It is illegal. News Paul Wiseman, Associated Press October 2, 2026.

U.S. Adds disappointing 29, 000 jobs and unemployment ticks up to 4.2% in September. News Jeremy Pittari October 2, 2026.

Third person overdoses in Oxford as police point to synthetic kratom products. News Magnolia Tribune October 2, 2026. Magnolia Mornings: October 2, 2026. Business Cass Rutledge October 1, 2026.

Taken together, the developments around lawmakers conclude redistricting hearings with final public comment session at the Mississippi point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.