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Congressman Bennie G. Thompson’s Biography:

Congressman Bennie G. Thompson is an elected member of the United States House of Representatives from Mississippi’s 2nd Congressional District. He claimed his seat in the House on April 20, 1993. A proud native of Bolton, Mississippi, Congressman Thompson considers it an honor to serve his constituents and advocate for civil rights, education, health, infrastructure, and property rights.

Now serving his 16th term in the United States House of Representatives, Congressman Thompson has spent his entire career fighting to improve the lives of all people. He is the longest-serving African American elected official in the State of Mississippi and the lone Democrat in the Mississippi Congressional Delegation.

Congressman Thompson’s commitment to public service was inspired by his early involvement in the civil rights movement. He began his grassroots political activism by joining civil rights leader Fannie Lou Hamer in her 1965 bid for Congress. This experience ignited his passion for deeper involvement as he witnessed systemic oppression in Mississippi. During his early years, he worked with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) as an undergraduate at Tougaloo College and served as a field organizer for Fannie Lou Hamer’s Congressional campaign, hosting voter registration drives for African Americans in Mississippi.

Building on this early activism, his dedication to civil service led him to run his own campaigns. He served as Alderman (1969-1972) and Mayor (1973-1980) of Bolton, MS, and as a county supervisor (1980-1993) in Hinds County, Mississippi. Ultimately, this journey led to his bid for Congress—the very seat for which Fannie Lou Hamer once campaigned.

Congressman Bennie G. Thompson has been married to his college sweetheart, London Johnson of Mound Bayou, Mississippi, for 54 years. Together, they have one daughter, one granddaughter, and one grandson. Thompson is a lifetime member of the Asbury United Methodist Church in Bolton, Mississippi. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Tougaloo College in Political Science where he was inducted as member of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. (Gamma Rho 1967– Tougaloo College). Thompson also holds a Master of Science degree in Educational Administration from Jackson State University. 

Carrying forward his deep connection to education, Congressman Thompson has been a lifelong advocate for students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Through his support of the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF), Mississippi received nearly $575 million for higher education, including over $237 million for seven HBCUs. This funding provided critical support for student financial relief, retaining faculty and staff, and maintaining campus operations during the pandemic, reflecting Congressman Thompson’s commitment to ensuring every student has access to opportunity and success.

Expanding his leadership to the field of healthcare, in 2000, Congressman Thompson played a key role as a lead author and sponsor of legislation that established the National Center for Minority Health and Health Care Disparities. He recognized the significant healthcare gaps faced by underserved communities, particularly in the Mississippi Delta, and worked to ensure that resources were allocated to address these disparities. His ongoing commitment to healthcare equity has driven him to advocate for policies that improve access to quality care, especially for minority populations.

While his early work as Mayor of Bolton focused on local infrastructure, Congressman Thompson has maintained that focus throughout his career. As Mayor, he spearheaded the paving of roads, the repair of water and sewer systems, and the renovation of deteriorating homes, laying a foundation for community growth. As a member of Congress, he prioritized infrastructure by supporting federal investments to improve roads, bridges, and utilities in Mississippi’s 2nd District, which has historically faced significant infrastructure challenges.

In addition to infrastructure, Congressman Thompson has taken on complex issues like property ownership in underserved communities. He played a crucial role in the "Heirs Property" case, advocating for policies to address the inequities caused by the practice of heirs' property, where property ownership is passed down through generations without clear titles. This issue disproportionately affected Black families in Mississippi and other Southern states, leading to the loss of land and resources. Thompson's efforts aimed to secure legislative measures to resolve this issue, protecting the rights of families to retain and benefit from their ancestral land.

Congressman Thompson’s leadership has also extended to national security. Before becoming the top Democratic member of the Homeland Security Committee in 2005, Congressman Thompson served on the Agriculture, Budget, and Small Business Committees. His colleagues promoted him to be the first-ever Democratic Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee.

More recently, on July 1, 2021, Speaker Nancy Pelosi named Rep. Thompson Chairman of the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol. Under Chairman Thompson’s leadership, the bipartisan committee conducted a thorough investigation of the facts, circumstances, and causes of the January 6th attack and worked to ensure nothing like that attack ever occurs again. The Select Committee presented its findings about a multi-part effort to overturn the 2020 election, reflecting the body of evidence the committee amassed from more than 1,000 interviews and hundreds of thousands of records.

Congressman Thompson’s impactful work has earned him national recognition. He received the Chairman’s Award during the 2023 NAACP Image Award, which recognizes Thompson's advocacy for civil rights. Most recently, he received the 2025 Presidential Citizens Medal presented by President Joseph R. Biden, which is awarded to citizens of the United States who have performed admirable deeds of service for their country or their fellow citizens.

Through his decades of service, Congressman Thompson’s work in Congress has consistently sought to address his district's systemic challenges, championing education, healthcare, infrastructure, and civil rights. His leadership has left an indelible mark on Mississippi and the broader fight for justice and equity.