Roger F. Wicker
RepublicanU.S. Senator, MS| Age | 74 (b. 1951-07-05) |
| Gender | Male |
| In office since | 1995-01-04 (~31 yrs) |
| Race / ethnicity | White |
| Religion | Baptist; deacon and choir member at First Baptist Church Tupelo |
| Education | B.A. in journalism and political science, University of Mississippi, 1973; J.D., University of Mississippi School of Law, 1975 |
| Prior occupation | Attorney; Lee County Public Defender (1984–1987); staff of U.S. Rep. Trent Lott (1980–1982); Judge Pro Tem, Tupelo, MS |
| Military service | Yes: United States Air Force / Air Force Reserve (Lieutenant Colonel) |
| Birthplace | Pontotoc, Mississippi |
| Marital status | married — Gayle Long Wicker |
| Children | 3 |
| Residence | Tupelo, Mississippi |
| Notable relatives | Father: Thomas Frederick (Fred) Wicker, Circuit Judge for Mississippi's 1st Judicial District 1970–1990 |
Pending research: languages · openly lgbtq.
Career & politics
| First elected | 1988 |
| Previous offices | Mississippi State Senate, 6th District (1988–1995) · U.S. House of Representatives, Mississippi's 1st Congressional District (1995–2007) |
| Committees | Senate Armed Services Committee (Chair, 119th Congress) · Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee · Senate Environment and Public Works Committee · Senate Rules and Administration Committee |
| Caucuses | Senate Ukraine Caucus (Co-Chair) · Senate Malaria Caucus (Co-Founder) |
| Leadership | Chairman, Senate Armed Services Committee (January 2025–present) · Chairman, National Republican Senatorial Committee (2015–2017) · Chairman, Helsinki Commission (Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe) · Senate Deputy Republican Whip |
| Ideology | Conservative Republican; American Conservative Union lifetime rating 90.8%; Heritage Action scorecard 71% (119th Congress); Heritage Foundation lifetime rating 59%; LCV near-zero environmental scores; strong defense hawk, Ukraine supporter |
| Signature legislation | Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability (DATA) Act (signed 2020) — improved FCC broadband mapping for rural communities · SHIPS Act (2017) — required U.S. Navy to achieve 355 ships · Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act — protect U.S. telecom networks from Chinese espionage · MERIT Act — required DoD to base promotions on individual performance |
Financial
Net worth: disclosed $-881,986–$319,997 (2023) · estimate
| Rental Property, Alexandria, VA | real_estate · $250,001–$500,000 · 2023 |
| PGRWX – Putnam Fund for Growth & Income A | fund · $50,001–$100,000 · 2023 |
| RNST – Renasant Corp. | stock · $50,001–$100,000 · 2024 |
| WMT – Walmart Inc. | stock · $15,001–$50,000 · 2023 |
| MRK – Merck & Co. Inc. | stock · $15,001–$50,000 · 2023 |
| ALTFX – AB Sustainable Global Thematic Fund Class A | fund · $15,001–$50,000 · 2023 |
Top donors: American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) ($339,103 (2019–2024 cycle)) · Granite Telecommunications ($150,000 (Wicker Victory Committee, 2024 cycle))
Top industries: Securities & Investment · Defense/Aerospace · Telecommunications · Lawyers & Lobbyists · Pro-Israel/Foreign Policy Advocacy
Scandals & crimes ledger
resolved — Wicker Mississippi Victory Committee FEC ADR Settlement business
The FEC's Reports Analysis Division referred the Wicker Mississippi Victory Committee (Wicker's campaign committee) to the ADR Office for campaign finance reporting violations under 2 U.S.C. §434 and 11 CFR 104. The Commission voted 4-1 to approve a settlement agreement with the committee and its treasurer Arnie Hederman, resulting in a $4,000 civil penalty and a mandatory FEC compliance seminar. The violations related to late or improper filing of required campaign finance reports — no allegation of personal corruption or intentional wrongdoing by Wicker was made.