Shad White urges redrawing congressional map to unseat Bennie Thompson

Mississippi state Auditor Shad White argued at a public hearing that the state’s congressional map should be redrawn to unseat U.S. Representative Bennie Thompson, blaming the veteran lawmaker for persistent poverty in the Mississippi Delta. Mississippi Today reported that White targeted the state’s lone Democratic and Black member of Congress during an October 2026 redistricting hearing at the state Capitol.

Redistricting Push and Public Reaction at the Capitol

The joint legislative redistricting hearing drew intense opposition from attendees who interrupted proceedings with shouts of booing and cries of racism as White spoke. Senator Dean Kirby, who chaired the committee, threatened to adjourn the meeting if the room did not remain quiet and respectful. White defended his remarks by telling the audience that a silent majority wanted better representation for the Delta region, specifically targeting Thompson’s focus on chairing the January 6 congressional committee rather than local economic outcomes.

The legislative hearings follow the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Louisiana v. Callais on April 29, 2026, which scrutinized the use of race in drawing district maps and rolled back protections under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. While Lieutenant Governor Delbert Hosemann praised the ruling for ending federal overreach, Governor Tate Reeves and other Republican leaders have signaled their intent to alter the 2nd Congressional District, which spans western Mississippi and includes the Delta.

Poverty Rates Across Mississippi Congressional Districts

While White blamed Thompson for the Delta’s economic struggles, comparative data across the state’s districts complicates the argument. Overflow Data reported in July 2025 that Thompson’s 2nd District ranks as the sixth highest in the nation for poverty with a rate of 25%, based on U.S. Census information. However, data from the Coalition on Human Needs shows that all four of Mississippi’s congressional districts maintain poverty rates significantly higher than the national average of 12.5%.

The state’s other three congressional seats are held by Republicans Trent Kelly, Michael Guest, and Mike Ezell. Mississippi's U.S. Senate seats have been held by Republicans for decades, including long-serving figures like Thad Cochran, who chaired the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, and Trent Lott, who served as Senate Majority Leader. On the state level, Governor Tate Reeves and former Governor Phil Bryant have held top executive offices for multiple terms without eradicating statewide poverty rankings that routinely place Mississippi at the bottom nationally.

White Targets Thompson Ahead of 2027 Governor Race

Mississippi Today noted that White is widely expected to run for governor in 2027, making his aggressive stance against the state’s most prominent Democrat a notable political maneuver. Thompson has represented the 2nd District since 1993 and remains a primary target for Republican leadership due to his high-profile criticisms of Donald Trump and his leadership on the House committee investigating the January 6, 2021, Capitol attacks.

Voters in the 2nd District will have the opportunity to decide Thompson’s political future at the ballot box in November, where he faces Republican challenger Ron Eller.