New Senate District maps approved, McLendon most affected in changes
Feb 26, 2025- Action in the Mississippi state Senate Wednesday means special elections will be forthcoming this summer in Senate districts that include DeSoto County.
A redistricting map required with a court order that forces a minority-majority Senate district to be drawn in DeSoto County passed, despite failed efforts to offer an alternative map by state Sen. Michael McLendon (R-Hernando). Joint Resolution 202 passed on a 33-16 Senate vote.
A three-judge panel last year ruled the Legislature did not include enough African-American representation in the redistricting work it did. The panel required the maps be redrawn with a minority-majority district in DeSoto County and also in Forrest County, the Hattiesburg area.
The result approved affects all three DeSoto County state senators, but it affects McLendon more because he is now moved into a new district where he would have to challenge Sen. Reginald Jackson (D-Marks). The new District 1 would have a 52.4 percent African-American voting age population.
State Sen. Dr. David Parker remains in Senate District 2 and Sen. Kevin Blackwell is in Senate District 19 and both would face no incumbent opposition.
New Senate Districts 11 and 45 have also been drawn under the Senate-passed plan.
McLendon tried to offer an amendment map he had drawn that he said would have met the judicial requirements, but it was voted down. His amendment would have kept Hernando together but the plan approved by the Senate divides the city and moves much of Hernando into a district with parts of Tate, Tunica, Quitman, and Coahoma counties.
The Hernando Board of Aldermen earlier passed a resolution to the Senate opposing the plan led by Sen. Dean Kirby (R-Pearl) and supporting McLendon. Wednesday, after the Senate vote, Alderman Chad Wicker issued a statement expressing disappointment in the vote.
“This drastic change places Hernando in a majority-minority district with communities that have vastly different needs and priorities,” Wicker said. “While I understand the necessity of redistricting to reflect population changes, this new district dramatically shifts the political landscape of DeSoto County. Historically, Hernando has had strong representation in the Mississippi Senate that reflects the values and priorities of our community. Now, the newly drawn district creates a highly competitive race with a strong possibility that our next senator could come from outside DeSoto County.”
Wicker also expressed his concern that the change dilutes Hernando’s voice in the Senate.
“Our community deserves strong, local representation that understands our unique challenges and fights for our interests in Jackson,” said Wicker. “I will continue working to ensure that DeSoto County’s residents are informed, engaged, and ready to make their voices heard in the next election.”
Five House districts in North Mississippi were earlier redrawn in the House of Representatives along with a minority-majority district in Chickasaw County.
Once judicial approval is given, special elections in the newly-drawn districts would be held on Aug. 5, primary runoff votes in early September and the general election on Nov. 4. Qualifying candidates would take place during two weeks in May.
The part of the new map that affects DeSoto County is found here. The new District 1 is in yellow.
The complete discussion on the resolution is found on the Mississippi Legislature YouTube Channel. The discussion begins at the 4:17:00 mark on the video.
