Judge orders new Mississippi Supreme Court elections
A federal judge, Sharion Aycock, ordered special elections for the Mississippi Supreme Court after finding the state’s 1987 election map violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act by diluting Black voting power and splitting the Delta, and gave the Legislature until the end of its 2026 regular session to adopt a new map. Aycock said she will move quickly to set special elections—likely in November 2026—once a map is approved and will decide which seats are subject to those elections then; the state is appealing the August ruling and the 5th Circuit has stayed proceedings pending U.S. Supreme Court action, while Gov. Tate Reeves is appointing temporary replacements for two justices recently named to federal judgeships.
📌 Key Facts
- U.S. District Judge Sharion Aycock ordered the Mississippi Legislature to redraw the state Supreme Court election map by the end of its 2026 regular session and said she will move quickly to meet deadlines for holding special elections in November 2026 once a new map is approved; she will decide which seats are subject to those special elections after the map is adopted.
- A federal court ruled in August that the 1987 Supreme Court election map violates Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act by diluting Black voting power and splitting the Delta region.
- Only four Black justices have ever served on the Mississippi Supreme Court; all held the same Central District seat and were initially placed there by gubernatorial appointment.
- The Mississippi Secretary of State’s Office is appealing the August ruling, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit has stayed its proceedings pending U.S. Supreme Court action on related Section 2 cases.
- Two Mississippi Supreme Court justices were recently appointed to federal judgeships; Gov. Tate Reeves will appoint interim replacements until new justices can be elected under the forthcoming map.
📊 Relevant Data
The Central District of the Mississippi Supreme Court has a Black voting-age population of 49.2% and a Black citizen voting-age population of 51.1%, compared to the statewide Black population of 36.14%.
Order and Opinion — U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi
The Southern District of the Mississippi Supreme Court has a Black voting-age population of 27.66% and a Black citizen voting-age population of 27.9%.
Order and Opinion — U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi
The Northern District of the Mississippi Supreme Court has a Black voting-age population of 32.65% and a Black citizen voting-age population of 33.3%.
Order and Opinion — U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi
From 1994 to 2017, approximately 56,000 Mississippians were disenfranchised due to felony convictions, of which 60% were Black, despite Black residents comprising about 37% of the state's population.
Order and Opinion — U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi
Voting in Mississippi Supreme Court elections is racially polarized, with White bloc voting usually defeating Black-preferred candidates, as evidenced by White support levels as low as 5.44% in certain races.
Order and Opinion — U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi
📰 Sources (2)
- Confirms that Judge Sharion Aycock's Friday order sets a deadline giving the Mississippi Legislature until the end of its 2026 regular session to redraw the Supreme Court election map.
- Clarifies that once a new map is approved, Aycock intends to move quickly to meet deadlines for holding special elections in November 2026.
- Specifies that Aycock will decide which Supreme Court seats are subject to special elections only after the new map is adopted.
- Reiterates that the 1987 map was found in August to violate Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act by diluting Black voting power, splitting the Delta, and that only four Black justices have ever served, all in the same Central District seat and initially via gubernatorial appointment.
- Notes that the Mississippi Secretary of State’s Office is appealing the August ruling, with the 5th Circuit staying its proceedings pending U.S. Supreme Court action on Section 2 cases.
- Reports that two Mississippi Supreme Court justices were recently appointed to federal judgeships and Gov. Tate Reeves will appoint replacements until new justices can be elected.