Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) said Saturday that Democrats “face a battle” following a possible redistricting effort following the Supreme Court’s ruling on Louisiana’s second majority-Black congressional district.
Ahead of the Supreme Court’s upcoming ruling on the Voting Rights Act, Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves (R) said last week that he would convene a special session to consider redrawing the state’s congressional maps, 21 days after the high court’s ruling. The decision was made on Wednesday.
“It’s clear we have a battle ahead of us,” Thompson told CNN’s Victor Blackwell. “Those of us who have been in this fight forever are going to continue to do so. In most states, Victor, no one has said this, all of these districts were drawn by Republicans and approved by Republican legislatures.”
Thompson argued that since black people make up 38% of Mississippi’s population, they should have “at least” one House representative.
“What you’re seeing is exactly what I’ve been talking about,” he continued. “Left themselves a chance without any guardrails, white Republican elected officials will eliminate every opportunity for Black people to be elected. So this Supreme Court issue that favors the Black community is now being challenged by the governor’s new redistricting plan.”
The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that Louisiana’s new map was an unconstitutional racial gerrymander that weakened core provisions of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. This provision prevents electoral practices that deny equal participation in the political process on the basis of race. The ruling could significantly impact the use of this provision.
Thompson said he “wouldn’t be an elected official” without the Voting Rights Act, and he wouldn’t be a registered voter without it.
But the ruling could jeopardize Democratic seats in Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee and South Carolina, according to the Cook Political Report and Sabato Crystal Ball (Thompson’s seat).
Thompson said the court’s decision “sets us back more than 60 years, and we’re going to fight for it.”
“Like you said, look what they’re doing in Louisiana,” he said. “They’re trying to block elections and take representation from the black community without any remorse. They just want to do that.”
Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry (R) on Thursday suspended the state’s primary and runoff elections scheduled for more than two weeks. He and Louisiana Attorney General Liz Muriel (R) said in a statement that the court’s ruling prohibits the state from “conducting congressional elections based on current maps.”
“This executive order ensures we uphold the rule of law while giving the Legislature the time it needs to pass fair and legal congressional maps,” Landry said in announcing the pause.
Democrats decried the Supreme Court ruling as a return to Jim Crow-era laws that limited black citizens in the South from voting through restrictions such as poll taxes and literacy tests. They worry it could help Republicans gain as many as 19 new Republican-leaning House seats.
Southern Republican lawmakers, including Sen. Tommy Tuberville (Ala.) and Sen. Marsha Blackburn (Tennessee), called on elected officials in their respective states to ensure a Republican victory in the House of Representatives in November.
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