Bennie G. Thompson represents Mississippi's 2nd Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, a position he has held since 1993. Before his congressional service, he served as a Bolton alderman and mayor, and as a Hinds County supervisor. He serves on the House Homeland Security Committee, where he has held leadership positions including committee chair. His legislative work has focused on homeland security policy, emergency management, and issues affecting his predominantly rural Mississippi district.

Name

Bennie G. Thompson

Party

Democratic

State

Mississippi

District

MS-2

Committees

Homeland Security Committee

Key Fact 1

Bennie G. Thompson has represented Mississippi's 2nd Congressional District since winning a special election in 1993.

Key Fact 2

He served as Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee from 2007 to 2011 and again from 2019 to 2023.

Key Fact 3

Thompson chaired the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol from 2021 to 2023.

Key Fact 4

Prior to Congress, he served as mayor of Bolton, Mississippi from 1973 to 1980.

Key Fact 5

He served as a Hinds County supervisor from 1980 until his election to Congress in 1993.

Key Fact 6

Thompson earned his bachelor's degree from Tougaloo College and a master's degree from Jackson State University.

Key Fact 7

He is the longest-serving African American member of the Mississippi congressional delegation in history.

Key Fact 8

His district includes the Mississippi Delta region and the state capital of Jackson.

Data from Congress.gov