Thanks to Richard Winger of Ballot Access News for this post.
A Federal Judge said Mississippi State Senate 22nd District, which snakes 102 Miles across the State, from near Cleveland in the Heart of the Delta, down to the Jackson Metro area, Violates the Federal Voting Rights Act, Thomas v Bryant, s.d., 3:18cv-441.
State Sen. Buck Clark (R-Hollandale), has held that Senate Seat since 2004. The Defendants are Gov. Phil Bryant, Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann, and Attorney General Jim Hood.
The Mississippi Center for Justice and Jackson-based Attorney Rob McDuff Represent the Plaintiffs and were joined in the Suit by the Lawyer’s Committee, the Waters Kraus Law Firm of Dallas, and Cleveland Attorney, Ellis Turnage.
In June, Three African American Men who live in the 22nd District Filed a Federal Lawsuit accusing the State of Gerrymandering that District, which lies mostly in the Majority Black Delta, to Intentionally Dilute African-American Voting Strength.
On Tuesday, U.S. District Court Judge Carlton Reeves Ruled that the District Violates the Voting Rights Act and Ordered the Legislature to Redraw the District before Statewide Elections in November. “As presently drawn, District 22 does not afford the plaintiffs ‘an equal opportunity to participate in the political processes and to elect candidates of their choice,'” Reeves wrote in his Order, citing Supreme Court Precedent.
The Legislature will get the First Crack at Redrawing the District in a way that Complies with the Mandates of the Voting Rights Act, but whatever Plan they come up with is likely to have Repercussions across Neighboring Districts.
Reeves noted that the Plaintiffs had already Suggested Three Alternate Plans that Comply. Two of those Plans would Affect only the 22nd and 23rd Districts. A Third Plan would Affect the 22nd, 23rd, and 13th Districts. Those seats are held by Clark, Sen. Briggs Hopson (R-Vicksburg), and Sen. Willie Simmons (D-Cleveland), respectively.
Clarke is not seeking Reelection to the Senate in 2019 but is Running for State Treasurer. Hayes Dent of Yazoo County, a Lobbyist and former Aide to Gov. Kirk Fordice, is the only Republican who has Qualified to Run for the 22nd District seat as currently Drawn.
The Senate 22nd District currently covers Six Counties in the Delta and Central Mississippi. The District is irregularly-shaped, with a wide center and two narrow arms, one that reaches North past Cleveland and another that reaches into Madison County, ending at the Barnett Reservoir.
Mississippi, which has 52 Senate Districts, is approximately 320 Miles top to bottom.
The Plaintiffs, Joseph Thomas of Yazoo County, Vernon Ayers of Washington County, and Melvin Lawson of Bolivar County, all Live in the 22nd District. Each of those Counties, All Located in the Delta, are predominantly African American.
The Lawsuit, filed in June, alleges that State Officers elongated the District, adding Madison County’s Wealthy and Largely White neighborhoods, to limit the District’s Black Voting Age Population to 50.8%. They argue that this, combined with White Bloc Voting and Lower African American Turnout, has consistently Diluted the Voting Strength of One of the most African American parts of the State.
“Gerrymandering stands as one of the greatest threats to democracy today. The current districting plan in Mississippi’s state Senate effectively denies African American voters an equal opportunity to participate in the political process,” said Kristen Clarke, President and Executive Director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.
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