March 17, 2025 Story by: Editor
HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WDAM) – The Mississippi chapter of the NAACP is pushing back against a newly proposed redistricting plan, filing a motion that challenges the Legislature’s efforts to redraw several House and Senate districts.
This legal move is part of an ongoing lawsuit alleging that the state has weakened Black voting power in certain areas. The lawsuit names the Mississippi State Board of Election Commissioners as defendants.
“For years, we’ve been greatly underrepresented,” said Forrest County District 4 Supervisor Rod Woullard, emphasizing concerns over the fairness of the proposed districts.
The motion calls for the state to allow the NAACP to suggest amendments to the plan, though it does not specify what those changes would entail.
New Majority-Minority District Raises Questions
The proposed Senate map introduces a new majority-minority District 45 in Forrest County. However, Woullard argues that the district does not provide enough Black voting power to be considered truly representative.
“We’ll only be at about 51%, with our Black voting age population probably about 47 percent,” he said. “So, I don’t see that truly as a Black district.”
Republican Sen. Chris Johnson (District 45) acknowledged that lawmakers sought input but primarily focused on meeting the court order.
“They asked us for minor input and tried to work with us where they could, but for the most part, it was just seeing what we could do to meet the court order,” Johnson explained.
Election Changes and Political Shifts
The redistricting plan also alters the political landscape by moving Johnson into District 44, currently represented by Sen. John Polk. Polk confirmed that he will not seek re-election.
“Part of the cities of Petal and Hattiesburg I had will go to other senators and pick up some areas in Lamar County,” Johnson said.
Several special elections are set for November, with candidate qualifying beginning on May 19.
Woullard believes the new district’s Black voting-age population should be increased by around 10% to ensure true representation.
“I think it’s going to come in somewhere around 60%, and your Black voting-age population would be around 56 or 57 percent,” he stated.
NAACP Pushes for Amendments Amid State Objections
The NAACP has not yet announced when it will present its proposed amendments. Meanwhile, a separate document indicates that the election board has objected to requests for a briefing on the matter.
State lawmakers must finalize the new redistricting plan before the current legislative session ends.
Source: WDAM
