Top Democrat Is OUT - Court Just Made Its Decision and Liberals Are...
Washington, D.C. — Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), a longtime member of Congress, has expressed strong disappointment with a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that he argues weakens protections for minority voters under the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The April ruling determined that congressional districts drawn primarily on the basis of race are unconstitutional and must be redrawn to ensure greater fairness.
Mississippi Republican Governor Tate Reeves and GOP lawmakers in the state are now moving forward with plans to redraw congressional district boundaries, as well as state legislative and state Supreme Court districts, ahead of the 2027 election cycle. The redistricting effort is intended to bring state maps into compliance with the Supreme Court’s decision.
Thompson, who has represented his district for approximately 30 years, told local media outlet WAPT that he was “very disappointed” with the high court’s ruling. He contended that the decision grants state legislatures broader authority to redraw political maps without the stricter racial considerations previously required under the Voting Rights Act. According to Thompson, the ruling represents a step backward in voter protections.
“We have created an opportunity in the South for black, brown, and white people to vote for the candidate of their choice. All of a sudden with this Supreme Court decision, it has taken us back,” Thompson said. He added that “Black voters matter and white voters matter, but when you deprive either group of the right to participate, that should not be.”
Thompson also defended his record, stating that he represents his constituents more effectively than other members of Mississippi’s congressional delegation. “Look at my voting record, it says that I care about education, housing, and healthcare, and my vote reflects that. More so than any other member of our delegation,” he said.
Republican leaders in Mississippi have argued that the state’s Second Congressional District was gerrymandered around race and no longer meets constitutional standards under the new Supreme Court precedent. State Auditor Shad White told reporters, “Mississippi has long had a congressional district—the second congressional district—which was gerrymandered around race. And there is no reason under this new ruling for that district to exist with the lines that it currently has.”
Supporters of the Supreme Court ruling maintain that drawing districts primarily on racial lines actually undermined fair representation by granting disproportionate political influence to one ethnic group over others. They contend the decision promotes color-blind districting that better reflects overall population demographics and voter preferences.
No final maps have been approved, and the redistricting process is expected to involve public input and legislative debate in the coming months. The developments come as both parties prepare for future electoral cycles, with the changes potentially affecting long-held seats in the South.
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Separately, in an unrelated case, the Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected Alabama’s attempt to execute a convicted murderer whom lower courts found to be intellectually disabled. The decision upheld prior rulings sparing Joseph Clifton Smith, who has been on death row for roughly half his life following a 1997 conviction. The case centered on standards for evaluating intellectual disability when IQ scores fall slightly above the commonly recognized threshold.
The Thompson redistricting matter remains the focus of partisan debate in Mississippi and national political circles as the 2026 midterms and subsequent cycles approach.
