Michael McEwen

I’m not a political genius when it comes to MS federal congressional redistricting but I have studied The Art of War by Sun Tzu. He would tell Mississippi’s Republican leaders: Know the terrain, know your forces, and above all, know when not to fight. The current congressional redistricting fight—sparked by the recent Supreme Court ruling in Louisiana v. Callais that narrowed Voting Rights Act protections on race-conscious maps—is a classic case of opportunity laced with peril. Some in our ranks (State Auditor Shad White, Sen. Kevin Blackwell, and others) see a chance to erase the majority-Black 2nd District held by Rep. Bennie Thompson and deliver a clean 4-0 Republican map before or after the 2026 midterms. Governor Tate Reeves and legislative leaders are more cautious, ruling out an immediate special-session redraw (he just canceled the one for Supreme Court districts) and signaling any congressional changes should come before the 2027 elections. Primaries have already happened, Trump is applying pressure nationally, and Democrats are mobilizing to fight. This is not abstract theory; it’s the ground you stand on right now. Here is what the author of The Art of War would counsel, drawn directly from his principles and applied to your situation: 1. “He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight.” 
Rushing a mid-cycle redraw now risks turning a position of strength into weakness. Your three Republican incumbents already won their primaries. Forcing new maps could nullify those results, invite immediate lawsuits (even post-Callais, courts can still scrutinize process and intent), and—most dangerously—dilute Black voters across the other districts in ways that make safe Republican seats more competitive. Some of your own voices (including former party leaders) have publicly warned this could shift the delegation from 3-1 to 2-2. Sun Tzu would call that fighting on unfavorable terrain. Strategic patience—preparing thorough, legally bulletproof maps for the next proper cycle—preserves your existing advantages while positioning you to strike cleanly later. 2. “The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.” 
The real prize isn’t just one seat in 2026; it’s long-term dominance in a state that already leans heavily Republican. Overreaching invites backlash, energizes the opposition, and hands Democrats a potent “gerrymandering” narrative for 2026 and beyond. Sun Tzu would urge you to let the post-ruling legal landscape work in your favor over time rather than charging into a brawl that could fracture your own coalition. Divide the enemy by forcing them to litigate on your terms, not theirs. Build public and legal justification now so that when maps do change, the move looks inevitable rather than desperate. 3. “He will win whose army is animated by the same spirit throughout all its ranks.” 
Your biggest immediate threat isn’t Thompson or the Democrats—it’s the visible split among Republican leaders. Public calls to “erase Bennie Thompson’s district” are bold, but they expose divisions that opponents can exploit. Sun Tzu repeatedly warns that internal disunity invites defeat. Reconcile the aggressive faction with the cautious one. Align on a unified timeline and messaging. A divided command loses before the first battle is joined. 4. “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.” 
You know your strengths: full control of the governorship, legislature, and (for now) the congressional delegation in a solidly red state. You also know the risks: demographic realities (Mississippi has the highest percentage of Black residents in the U.S.), the political cost of appearing to target one longtime incumbent, and the possibility that spreading Democratic-leaning voters could purple up districts that have been safely Republican. Thompson has already vowed to “fight until Hell freezes over.” Treat that resolve as a fact, not rhetoric. (More in comments).

Godspeed US

Media: “Congressman Higgins, you’re a MAGA Republican, so why did you say that the No Kings rallies were a success?” Me: “Because we were carefully observing Ma’am. Liberals gathered predictably, weather cooperated, crowds were thin but they tended to linger and pose… it was pretty much a flawless operation. We have millions of digital images, billions of identifying data points. Height, weight, shoe size, tattoos, gait… all of it. AI eats that stuff. Success.”