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Bennie Thompson

U.S. House of Representatives - Mississippi 2nd Congressional District

District 2, Mississippi

Bennie Gordon Thompson, born in 1948, is a prominent American politician and educator, serving as the U.S. Representative for Mississippi's 2nd congressional district since 1993. A dedicated member of the Democratic Party, Thompson has played a significant role in Congress, particularly as the chair of the Committee on Homeland Security from 2007 to 2011 and again from 2019 to 2023. Notably, he was both the first Democrat and the first African American to chair this important committee. Thompson has been recognized as the dean of Mississippi's congressional delegation since 2018. His political career also includes serving as mayor and in various other governmental roles before his long tenure in the House of Representatives. Throughout his career, Thompson has been the sole Democratic representative from Mississippi in Congress.