The Battle Over Black Representation in the South

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<p>The approach to this year’s midterms has brought two hugely consequential changes to voting for Black Americans: the gutting of the Voting Rights Act, and redistricting. In the wake of those actions, efforts are underway to mobilize Black voters in the South.</p><p>In Mississippi, the Senate battle is being seen as a sleeper race, and the Black Democrat running has a chance of flipping the seat, but state lawmakers are trying to redraw the maps and do away with their one majority Black district.</p><p>Today, Emily Cochrane, a reporter covering the American South for The New York Times, addresses the implications for voters across the region — not just in the midterms, but for years to come.</p><p>Guest: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/emily-cochrane" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Emily Cochrane</strong></a>, a national reporter for The New York Times covering the American South.</p><p>Background reading:&nbsp;</p><ul><li>Black Democratic candidates running in the South have <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/17/us/politics/black-voters-democratic-candidates-south.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">implored Black voters to go to the polls in response to the gutting of the Voting Rights Act</a>.</li><li>High-profile Democrats across the country <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/03/us/politics/mississippi-hyde-smith-senate-election.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">have some hope in Scott Colom’s bid for a seat in the Senate</a>.</li></ul><p>Photo: Anna Foley/The New York Times</p><p>For more information on today’s episode, visit <a href="http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily" rel="noopener noreferrer">nytimes.com/thedaily</a>. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.&nbsp;</p> <p><p>For more information on today’s episode, visit <a href="http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily"><strong>nytimes.com/thedaily</strong></a>. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. </p><p> </p><p>Subscribe today at <a href="http://nytimes.com/podcasts">nytimes.com/podcasts</a> or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher">https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher</a>. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.</p></p><br/> <p>Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.</p>