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Bennie Thompson

Bennie Thompson
Bennie Thompson, Official Portrait, 112th Congress.jpg
Ranking Member of the House Homeland Security Committee
Assumed office
January 3, 2011
Preceded by Peter King
In office
January 3, 2005 – January 3, 2007
Preceded by Jim Turner
Succeeded by Peter King
Chair of the House Homeland Security Committee
In office
January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2011
Preceded by Peter King
Succeeded by Peter King
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Mississippi's 2nd district
Assumed office
April 13, 1993
Preceded by Mike Espy
Personal details
Born Bennie Gordon Thompson
(1948-01-28) January 28, 1948 (age 69)
Bolton, Mississippi, U.S.
Political party Democratic
Spouse(s) London Thompson
Education Tougaloo College (BA)
Jackson State University (MS)

Bennie Gordon Thompson (born January 28, 1948) is the U.S. Representative for Mississippi's 2nd congressional district, serving since 1993, and the ranking member of the Committee on Homeland Security since 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party.

The district includes most of Jackson and is the only majority-black district in the state. The district is approximately 275 miles (443 km) long, 180 miles (290 km) wide and borders the Mississippi River. The Mississippi Delta comprises the vast majority of the 2nd District. He is both the first Democrat and the first African American to chair the Homeland Security Committee in the House.

Thompson is a lifelong resident of Bolton, near Jackson. He attended Hinds County public schools before earning a B.A. in political science from Tougaloo College in 1968 and an M.S. in educational administration from Jackson State University in 1973. He served as an alderman, then mayor of Bolton before being elected to the Hinds County Board of Supervisors.

Thompson also belongs to the Congressional Black Caucus, Congressional Progressive Caucus, Congressional Rural Caucus, Congressional Sunbelt Caucus, Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Caucus, Congressional Travel & Tourism Caucus, and the Tennessee Valley Authority Caucus. He also is involved in the Congressional Children's Working Group and the National Guard & Reserve Components Congressional Members Organization.


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