Mississippi House to hold Old Capitol session on redrawing supreme court districts
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · May 6
Mississippi House to hold Old Capitol session on redrawing supreme court districts
9 articles · Updated · The Guardian · May 6
The 20 May session in Jackson follows chamber renovations, with Speaker Jason White saying any special session before January 2027 would use the Old Capitol.
The Senate will remain in the current capitol, while Black lawmakers and advocates say using the former seat of secession and Jim Crow carries harmful symbolism.
The redistricting comes after Louisiana v Callais weakened part of the Voting Rights Act, amid fears new maps could dilute Black voting strength in Mississippi.
How will new maps balance state objectives with the Supreme Court's latest voting rights ruling?
Can a building's controversial past be separated from its present-day government function?
How the Supreme Court’s Louisiana v. Callais Decision Threatens Black Voting Power in Mississippi
Overview
Mississippi's May 20, 2026 special legislative session, held at the historically charged Old Capitol due to renovations at the State Capitol, has sparked strong criticism from Black lawmakers who see the venue as a symbol of past racial oppression. The session aims to redraw districts following a 2025 federal court ruling invalidating discriminatory maps. However, the April 2026 Supreme Court decision in Louisiana v. Callais weakened the Voting Rights Act by requiring proof of intentional racial discrimination, empowering Mississippi Republicans to target the state's only majority-Black congressional district. This has intensified efforts to dilute Black voting power, prompting legal challenges and protests from civil rights groups determined to protect fair representation.