State Sen. Johnny DuPree Faces a Third Race in Four Years

State Senator Johnny DuPree is preparing for a third election in four years because of shifting district boundaries in Mississippi. The latest draft map would place him in District 44, adding to a history of moving lines that DuPree calls a moving target. He is currently running for District 34 in a special election scheduled for December 22.

DuPree has traced his own political displacement since 2023. He served in District 34 that year, moved to District 45 in 2025, and returned to District 34 for the 2026 cycle. The proposed working map for next year assigns him to District 44. DuPree argues this pattern disrupts stable representation. He described the process as reeking of intimidation or an attempt to keep people from voting.

The redistricting effort follows a U.S. Supreme Court decision in April that allowed Mississippi to redraw lines. The Secretary of State’s Office suggested a special session to the governor, but that session has not occurred. Eight other meetings were open to the public in areas affected by the 2025 redistricting. DuPree attended these meetings, where photos and note-taking were not permitted. He claims the working map does not reflect the feedback he heard from residents.

DuPree cited a specific statistic regarding public sentiment at those gatherings. He stated that 75% to 80% of people who attended asked officials not to redistrict. He compared the process to a dog and pony show. Circuit clerks have been instructed to use the 2022 map for the November 3 election. That instruction eliminated District 45, forcing DuPree to run in District 34 now. If the working map becomes official, he will face another race in 2027.

An agreement exists to keep the current lines in place until December 2027. DuPree noted that he ran in 2025, is running in 2026, and expects to run again in 2027. He has occupied four different districts during this four-year cycle. He pointed to the Supreme Court’s encouragement for states to seek fair representation. He argued that the current process lacks fairness because it may remove African American representation from Districts 34 and 45. He told voters to cast ballots on November 3 and again on December 22.