Rep. Bennie Thompson

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D Mississippi, 2nd (1993-) In Office

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Biographical

Full Name: Bennie Gordon Thompson
Gender: Male
Pronunciation: BEH-nee TOMP-suhn
Date of Birth: Jan. 28, 1948 (age: 76)
Place of Birth: Bolton, Miss.
Religion: United Methodist
Hometown: Bolton, Miss.
Place of Residence: Bolton, Miss.
Previous Occupation: Community organizer

Wikipedia

Official biography

Family:

Married: London Johnson Thompson

1 child: BendaLonne

Relations with people in our database:

Father of BendaLonne Griffith

Biography:

Rep. Bennie G. Thompson has spent his entire life giving a voice to the voiceless. The congressman's lifelong public service record is a testament to his unwavering dedication to fulfill and exceed the expectations of the constituents of the Second Congressional District of Mississippi. A native of rural Bolton, Miss., Thompson has always been aware of the realities that plague the South. Viewing the experiences his family endured first hand became the catalyst for his passion for those who were oftentimes underserved.

Born in a state with a unique history of racial inequality, Rep. Thompson draws inspiration from the legacies of Medgar Evers, Fannie Lou Hamer, Aaron Henry and Henry Kirksey. He considers it an honor to walk the path Miss issippi civil rights icons paved decades ago.

Rep. Thompson is a product of the Hinds County School District. After graduation, he earned a bachelor's degree from Tougaloo College and a master's from Jackson State University. While pursuing his education, Thompson began to cultivate his passion for grassroots political activism. A product of the civil rights movement, Thompson joined the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and helped to organize voter registration drives for African Americans in the Mississippi Delta. After graduating from college, Thompson followed in the footsteps of his mother and worked as a schoolteacher. It was during this time that he began to aggressively pursue a career in politics.

Thompson served as alderman from 1968 to 1972 and went on to serve as mayor from 1973 to 1980, both in his hometown of Bolton. As mayor and founding member and president of the Mississippi Association of Black Mayors, he initiated policies and provided services that benefited the underserved citizens of his hometown. In his capacity as mayor, Thompson made improved the water and sewer systems, paved streets, renovated dilapidated houses, spearheaded the construction of city hall, and re-evaluated the town’s real estate to reflect accurate values.

From 1980 to 1993, Thompson served as a Hinds County supervisor and was the founding member and president of the state’s Association of Black Supervisors. Thompson’s reputation for being a pragmatic local public servant afforded him an opportunity to be the vocal champion for his constituents. Thompson’s years of dedication and service to those constituents led them to elect him to Congress in 1993 to represent the Second District of Mississippi.

Rep. Thompson is the longest-serving African American elected official in the state of Mississippi. He is also the only Democrat in the Mississippi Congressional Delegation. Thompson’s stellar voting record is indicative of his determination to be an activist for reform. In 2000, Thompson authored legislation creating the National Center for Minority Health and Health Care Disparities, which subsequently became law. Thompson also received a Presidential appointment to serve on the National Council on Health Planning and Development.

In August 2005, the state of Mississippi was severely damaged by the natural disasters of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Rep. Thompson aggressively advocated for disaster relief improvements within government agencies and provided oversight to ensure that federal funds were properly allocated for Gulf Coast recovery.

Rep. Thompson is a lifelong member of the Asbury United Methodist Church in Bolton, Mississippi. He married his college sweetheart, London Johnson of Mound Bayou, Miss. in 1968, they remain happily married to this day. The couple has one daughter BendaLonne. Thompson is an avid outdoorsman. He also enjoys gardening, reading and listening to blues music. See more >>

Miscellaneous Links:

Ballotpedia

C-SPAN

GovTrack

Project VoteSmart

Campaign Links:

Website, campaign

Email, campaign: bennie_thompson@bellsouth.net

X (Twitter), campaign

Instagram, campaign

Facebook, campaign

Open Secrets political finance profile

Social Networking:

Facebook, official

X (Twitter), official

YouTube, official

Instagram, official

Flickr, official

TikTok, official

Official Links:

Website, official

Press Releases

Education

Jackson State University - MS, education administration (1972)
Tougaloo College - BA, political science (1968)

Greek Organizations:

Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc.

Office History

Congressional Offices:

U.S. House of Representatives (April 13, 1993-) In Office

Member, 2nd Congressional District of Mississippi

Election Results

2021 (Nov. 3, 2020 election)

2nd Congressional District of Mississippi

Bennie Gordon Thompson, 66.02%
Democrat

Brian Flowers, 33.98%
Republican
2019 (Nov. 6, 2018 election)

2nd Congressional District of Mississippi

Bennie Gordon Thompson, 72.00%
Democrat

Troy Ray, 22.00%
Independent Party

Irving Harris, 6.00%
Reform Party
2017 (Nov. 8, 2016 election)

2nd Congressional District of Mississippi

Bennie Gordon Thompson, 67.11%
Democrat

John L. Bouie II, 29.15%
Republican

Troy Ray, 2.41%
Independent

Johnny McLeod, 1.33%
Reform Party
2015 (Nov. 4, 2014 election)

2nd Congressional District of Mississippi

Bennie Gordon Thompson, 67.74%
Democrat

Troy Ray, 24.53%
Independent

Shelley Shoemake, 7.73%
Reform Party
2013 (Nov. 6, 2012 election)

2nd Congressional District of Mississippi

Bennie Gordon Thompson, 67.13%
Democrat

Bill Marcy, 30.96%
Republican

Cobby Mondale Williams, 1.44%
Independent
2011 (Nov. 2, 2010 election)

2nd Congressional District of Mississippi

Bennie Gordon Thompson, 61.47%
Democrat

Bill Marcy, 37.64%
Republican
2009 (Nov. 4, 2008 election)

2nd Congressional District of Mississippi

Bennie Gordon Thompson, 69.05%
Democrat

Richard Cook, 30.95%
Republican
2007 (Nov. 7, 2006 election)

2nd Congressional District of Mississippi

Bennie Gordon Thompson, 64.27%
Democrat

Yvonne R Brown, 35.73%
Republican
2005 (Nov. 2, 2004 election)

2nd Congressional District of Mississippi

Bennie Gordon Thompson, 58.38%
Democrat

Clinton B. Lesueur, 40.64%
Republican
2003 (Nov. 5, 2002 election)

2nd Congressional District of Mississippi

Bennie Gordon Thompson, 55.14%
Democrat

Clinton B. Lesueur, 42.75%
Republican

Lee Dilworth, 2.10%
Reform Party
2001 (Nov. 7, 2000 election)

2nd Congressional District of Mississippi

Bennie Gordon Thompson, 65.07%
Democrat

Hardy Caraway, 31.21%
Republican

William G Chipman, 2.48%
Libertarian

Lee F Dilworth, 1.23%
Reform Party
1999 (Nov. 3, 1998 election)

2nd Congressional District of Mississippi

Bennie Gordon Thompson, 71.16%
Democrat

Will Chipman, 28.84%
Libertarian
1997 (Nov. 5, 1996 election)

2nd Congressional District of Mississippi

Bennie Gordon Thompson, 59.62%
Democrat

Danny Covington, 37.96%
Republican

William G Will Chipman, 2.42%
Libertarian
1995 (Nov. 8, 1994 election)

2nd Congressional District of Mississippi

Bennie Gordon Thompson, 53.68%
Democrat

Bill Jordan, 38.89%
Republican

Vince Thornton, 7.43%
Undetermined

Associated Organizations

Board membership:

Congressional Black Caucus Political Education and Leadership Institute
Housing Assistance Council
Tougaloo College
Trustee Emeritus
BLB Properties
President
U.S. Coast Guard Academy
Member, Board of Visitors
Tougaloo College (2004-)
Trustee Emeritus

Place of worship:

Asbury United Methodist Church (Bolton, Miss.)

Election campaign:

Friends of Bennie Thompson (Mississippi)

Own leadership PAC:

Secure PAC

Awards

Chairman's Award (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) (Feb. 2023)
Spirit of Enterprise Award (U.S. Chamber of Commerce) (June 2020)
Porker of the Month (Citizens Against Government Waste) (June 2018)

Activities and Interests

Hobbies: gardening, reading, music (listening to the blues)

Official Signature

Contact Information

Office Addresses:

Main Office:

Address:	2466 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515-2402
Phone:	202-225-5876
Fax:	202-225-5898

View Larger Map

» District Offices

Privately Financed Travel

66 trips taken between 2000 - 2017 costing $170,177

See map of trips

Trip Destinations:

Trip Sponsors:

» see more

Personal Financial Disclosures

Disclosures as a member:

Annual: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2016 (Amendment), 2015, 2015 (Amendment), 2014, 2013, 2013 (Amendment), 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2008 (Amendment), 2007, 2006, 2006 (Amendment), 2005, 2004, 2004 (Amendment), 2003, 2002
Extension Letter: 2021, 2020
» see more

Congressional Staff

Staff Turnover:

Turnover Index: 0.15
(House Average: 0.25)
» See more

Staff Salary Rate:

Office Median Annual Salary: $64,660.49
» See more

Staff Salaries Paid:

» See full staffer list

» view all salaries

Committees

House Homeland Security Committee, Ranking Member

House Homeland Security Committee Border Security and Enforcement Subcommittee, Ex Officio

House Homeland Security Committee Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement and Intelligence Subcommittee, Ex Officio

House Homeland Security Committee Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection Subcommittee, Ex Officio

House Homeland Security Committee Emergency Management and Technology Subcommittee, Ex Officio

House Homeland Security Committee Oversight, Investigations and Accountability Subcommittee, Ex Officio

House Homeland Security Committee Transportation and Maritime Security Subcommittee, Ex Officio

Caucuses

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