Bennie G. Thompson is currently serving his eighth term as the Democratic Congressman for Mississippi's Second District and third term on the Homeland Security Committee.  The Second District stretches from Tunica in the north to Jefferson County in the south and all points in-between, creating a rare blend of agricultural economies and the hustle and bustle of city life.

Congressman Thompson has spent his entire adult life giving a voice to the voiceless.  With more than 40 years of continuous public service, he is the longest-serving African-American elected official in the state of Mississippi. He served as alderman and mayor in his hometown for years, after which he served as Hinds County Supervisor for 13 years before being elected to Congress in1993. With six district offices - Bolton, Greenville, Greenwood, Jackson, Marks, and Mound Bayou - Congressman Thompson is committed to empowering those who gave him an opportunity to represent the Second District of Mississippi.  His reputation as a no-nonsense problem solver has earned him the trust of his constituents and the respect of his colleagues in Washington.

To begin the 110th Congress, Thompson was promoted by his colleagues to serve as the first ever Democratic Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, a committee which was created by the U.S. House of Representatives in 2002 in the aftermath of September 11, 2001.  As Chairman, Congressman Thompson recently introduced and engineered House passage of the most comprehensive homeland security package since September 11th, H.R. 1, the "9/11 Commission Recommendations Act of 2007".

Drawing on his 26 years of experience as a volunteer firefighter in Hinds County, Thompson understands that our nation's law enforcement and first responders are our first line of defense in times of emergency.  With that in mind he has constantly fought to ensure they are fully equipped with the resources and tools they need to effectively respond to any and all emergencies.

Congressman Thompson long been considered a leading voice on civil rights, equal education and healthcare reform, Congressman Thompson has helped to make a real difference in the lives of his constituents. In 1975, he filed a lawsuit to increase funding at Mississippi's historically black universities. With Congressman Thompson as lead plaintiff, the case was settled in 2004 for an unprecedented $503 million. In 2000, Congressman Thompson's legislation creating the National Center for Minority Health and Health Care Disparities became law. 

Congressman Thompson is a lifelong member of the Asbury United Methodist Church in Bolton Mississippi.  He has been married to his college sweetheart, London Johnson of Mound Bayou, Mississippi, for 39 years.  The couple has one daughter BendaLonne, one granddaughter, Jeanna and one grandson, Thomas Gordon.

The Congressman enjoys hunting, gardening, reading and music.

Committee Assignment
Official High Resolution Photo