Mississippi Lt. Gov. removes Senate Democrat from redistricting committee

Mississippi Lieutenant Governor Delbert Hosemann has removed Senate Democratic Leader Derrick Simmons from a select committee tasked with advising on redistricting. Simmons was replaced on the committee by Senator Albert Butler.

The removal follows a letter co-authored by Simmons, House Minority Leader Robert Johnson, and Legislative Black Caucus Chairman Kabir Karriem. In the letter, the lawmakers urged the Legislature against redrawing political districts at this time, arguing that such actions could dilute Black voting strength and constitute intentional discrimination. They maintained that redistricting should only occur if legally justified and accompanied by meaningful public input.

While redistricting typically occurs every decade following the U.S. Census, recent legal developments, including the U.S. Supreme Court’s Callais decision, have provided state legislatures with increased latitude to redraw districts for partisan reasons. Simmons stated he respects the lieutenant governor’s authority regarding committee assignments but remains firm in his opposition to mid-decade redistricting.