As an American veteran who took an oath to defend the Constitution, I have never believed that representation in our republic should be dictated by race-based engineering or the demands of special interests. The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Louisiana v. Callais has now made clear that states can and should draw congressional maps using traditional, race-neutral principles. Mississippi has both the authority and the moral duty to act. Even after Governor Reeves’ recent decision to cancel next week’s special legislative session on Supreme Court districts, our leaders must move forward with congressional redistricting and deliver the 4-0 Republican delegation that accurately reflects the conservative values of our state.
Mississippi is not a purple state. Our voters have consistently chosen Republican leadership at every level for years. Yet we remain saddled with a 3-1 congressional split because of decades of race-based map-drawing under outdated interpretations of the Voting Rights Act. One district was deliberately constructed to guarantee a Democratic win rather than to respect communities of interest, county lines, or the actual political will of Mississippians. That is not representation; it is manufactured division.
Recent commentary, including a thoughtful post by Bill Cork citing Sun Tzu’s The Art of War, urges caution: “know when not to fight,” avoid mid-cycle changes after primaries, preserve safe Republican seats, and wait until the next proper cycle to prevent turning a 3-1 advantage into a 2-2 split. These are serious concerns that deserve a direct, principled response.
In my 32 years of service, including combat operations, multiple deployments, and the harrowing morning of 9/11 at the Pentagon, I studied and lived the principles of Sun Tzu’s The Art of War. That ancient text is not abstract philosophy; it is battle-tested wisdom on timing, terrain, unity, and seizing the moment when the enemy’s position weakens. I applied these lessons in real war, and they apply with equal force to this strategic fight for fair representation.
First, on timing and “knowing when to fight and when not to fight”: Sun Tzu teaches in Chapter 3 that the wise general wins before the battle begins. The Supreme Court has already shifted the legal terrain decisively in our favor by rejecting race-based mandates. Primaries have occurred, yes, but the Constitution grants state legislatures plenary authority over congressional elections. Adjusting them now is a small and temporary price to pay for decades of fair representation. In combat, hesitation when the ground favors you is not prudence. It is surrender. Governor Reeves has rightly said redistricting is “not a question of if, it’s a question of when.” Waiting until after 2026 would be the very failure Sun Tzu warns against.
Second, on strategy and the risk of weakening safe seats: Sun Tzu’s supreme art is “to subdue the enemy without fighting.” The current 2nd District was engineered under an outdated Voting Rights Act interpretation that the Court has now sharply limited. Redrawing on traditional criteria, equal population, compactness, contiguity, respect for county lines, and communities of interest, does not dilute our strength; it multiplies our advantage. Mississippi’s strong conservative lean across the entire state provides ample room to craft four solid or competitive Republican districts without sacrificing incumbent safety. This is not a reckless charge; it is Sun Tzu’s principle of striking at the enemy’s weakness while the opportunity is ripe. “Opportunities multiply as they are seized.” We know ourselves: we control the governorship and both legislative chambers. We know the enemy: the artificially constructed district no longer enjoys the same legal shield. Victorious warriors win first and then go to war. The legal victory is won; now we execute.
Third, on unity and internal debate: Sun Tzu writes that the army animated by the same spirit throughout all its ranks will prevail. Healthy discussion within Republican ranks is good, but paralysis in the face of a clear opening is not. A bold, unified move to expand redistricting demonstrates the very leadership and shared purpose Sun Tzu demands. The biggest threat to our strength is not decisive action; it is hesitation that hands Democrats a narrative while energizing their base.
Fourth, on race, demographics, and history: No serious advocate of redistricting is motivated by race. The Supreme Court has now rejected the idea that the Voting Rights Act requires states to draw districts that guarantee electoral success based on race. Congressman Thompson’s district was not drawn around some neutral regional interest; it was drawn to ensure a specific racial outcome. Pointing that out is not “racist”; it is constitutionally required. Black conservatives such as DeSoto County Sheriff Thomas Tuggle, the first African American elected sheriff in his county since Reconstruction, and State Representative Rodney Hall prove that values, not skin color, determine political alignment. Every Mississippian, Black or white, benefits from conservative policies that prioritize jobs, strong families, safe communities, and economic opportunity over identity politics and failed big-government experiments. The tired accusation that fair maps equal Jim Crow is hyperbolic and has lost its power with the American people.
Fellow Mississippians, the eyes of the nation are watching. President Trump has called on Republican-led states to maximize their strength in Congress. Even with the special session on judicial maps now off the table, I urge Governor Reeves, Speaker White, Lt. Governor Hosemann, and our legislative leaders to seize this moment, expand the scope of redistricting efforts, and move forward with new congressional maps that reflect the will of our state. Let us show the country what principled, decisive leadership looks like by securing four Republican seats that will fight for limited government, strong national defense, economic freedom, and America First priorities.
Mississippi has a proud history of resilience and common sense. It is time to apply that same spirit, and the timeless lessons of strategy I learned in war, to our congressional map. The future of our state and our contribution to a stronger America depends on it.
Colonel Rob Maness (Ret.) is a 32-year USAF veteran, 9/11 Pentagon survivor, former U.S. Senate candidate, and host of The Rob Maness Show. He resides in Gulfport, Mississippi.