Bennie G. Thompson
DemocratU.S. Representative, MS-2| Age | 78 (b. 1948-01-28) |
| Gender | Male |
| In office since | 1993-04-13 (~33 yrs) |
| Race / ethnicity | African American / Black |
| Religion | Christian; United Methodist (lifelong member of Asbury United Methodist Church, Bolton, MS) |
| Education | B.A. in Political Science, Tougaloo College (1968); M.S. in Educational Administration, Jackson State University (1972) |
| Prior occupation | Schoolteacher; local elected official (alderman, mayor, county supervisor); civil rights organizer (SNCC) |
| Military service | No |
| Birthplace | Bolton, Mississippi |
| Marital status | Married — London Johnson Thompson |
| Children | 1 |
| Residence | Bolton, Mississippi |
Pending research: languages · notable relatives · openly lgbtq.
Career & politics
| First elected | 1993 |
| Previous offices | Alderman, Town of Bolton, Mississippi (1969-1973) · Mayor, Town of Bolton, Mississippi (1973-1980) · Hinds County Board of Supervisors (1980-1993) |
| Committees | House Committee on Homeland Security (Ranking Member) |
| Caucuses | Congressional Black Caucus · Congressional Disaster Equity and Building Resilience Caucus (co-founder, 119th Congress) · Congressional Rural Caucus · Congressional Gaming Caucus |
| Leadership | Ranking Member, House Committee on Homeland Security (since 2023) · Chair, House Committee on Homeland Security (2007-2011; 2019-2023) · Chair, House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the U.S. Capitol (2021-2023) · Permanent Chair, 2020 Democratic National Convention |
| Ideology | Reliable Democratic voter; sole Democrat in Mississippi's U.S. congressional delegation; longest-serving African American elected official in Mississippi. |
| Signature legislation | Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (H.R. 1), signed into law August 3, 2007 |
Financial
Net worth: disclosed $469,023–$1,310,000 (2018) · estimate
No holdings recorded yet (from official Financial Disclosure filings).
Top donors: AFLAC Inc ($12,401 (2023-2024 cycle))
Top industries: Lawyers/Law Firms ($82,357, 2023-2024 cycle)
Scandals & crimes ledger
resolved — FEC Administrative Fine: Friends of Bennie Thompson (2016 Pre-Primary Report)
The FEC assessed a $3,300 administrative fine (AF #3053) against Friends of Bennie Thompson (Committee ID: C00279851) for a violation related to the 2016 Pre-Primary campaign finance report. The initial finding and penalty were issued April 26, 2016, upheld September 15, 2016, and paid in full by the October 15, 2016 due date.