Rankin County in position to gain seats in House of Representatives

Apr. 20, 2022

Source: Rankin County News

Mississippi House of Representatives by Kobee Vance, MPB News

BRANDON- After each federal decennial census, the Mississippi Legislature is required to redistrict the Senate and House of Representatives seats so that each legislator represents nearly the same number of people. The 2020 decennial census shows that Rankin County grew about 40,000 residents since 2010.

The Legislators finished the redistricting in late March. As a result of their redistricting, Rankin County is in a position to pick up two additional seats in the House of Representatives. State elections will next be held in 2023.

House District 59 is wholly held in Rankin County and held by Rep. Brent Powell. House District 60 is wholly in Rankin County and held by Rep. Fred Shanks. House District 61 is wholly in Rankin County and held by rep. Gene Newman. House District 62 is split between Rankin and Copiah counties and is held by Tom Weathersby. When the redistricting was completed, the number of residents in Rankin County grew to 21,792 and those in Copiah County fell to 2,999.

House District 68 is split between Rankin and Hinds counties. The majority of the population had been in Hinds County and Zakiya Summers of Jackson held the seat. Following redistricting, Rankin County residents living in the district number 14,388 while in Hinds County, they total 10,235. House district 74 is wholly in Rankin County and is held by rep. Lee Yancey.

House District 75 had been split between Rankin County and Scott County, with the majority of the people living Scott County. Tom Miles held the seat. After redistricting was completed, District 75 now will be split between Madison, Scott and Rankin counites. The number of residents living in that district in Madison County is 6,084; in Scott County is 7,996 and Rankin County is 11,196.