# Bennie Thompson

_American politician (born 1948)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/bennie-thompson
Last updated: 2026-11-03

> Bennie Gordon Thompson is an American politician and educator serving as the U.S. representative for Mississippi's 2nd congressional district since 1993. A member of the Democratic Party, Thompson served as the chair of the Committee on Homeland Security from 2007 to 2011 and from 2019 to 2023. He was both the first Democrat and the first African American to chair the committee. Since 2011, he has been the only Democrat in Mississippi's congressional delegation, and since 2018 he has been the dean of the delegation after Thad Cochran left Congress.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 28 January 1948 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q817877#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Bolton ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q817877#P19))
- **Citizenship:** United States ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q817877#P27))
- **Occupation:** politician; teacher ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q817877#P106))
- **Political party:** Democratic Party ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q817877#P102))
- **Education:** Tougaloo College; Jackson State University; Hinds County Agricultural High School ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q817877#P69))
- **Official website:** benniethompson.house.gov ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q817877#P856))
- **Positions held:** United States representative (since 3 January 2021); United States representative (3 January 2019 – 3 January 2021); United States representative (3 January 2017 – 3 January 2019); United States representative (6 January 2015 – 3 January 2017); United States representative (3 January 2013 – 3 January 2015); United States representative (5 January 2011 – 3 January 2013); United States representative (6 January 2009 – 3 January 2011); United States representative (4 January 2007 – 3 January 2009); United States representative (4 January 2005 – 3 January 2007); United States representative (7 January 2003 – 3 January 2005); United States representative (3 January 2001 – 3 January 2003); United States representative (6 January 1999 – 3 January 2001); United States representative (7 January 1997 – 3 January 1999); United States representative (4 January 1995 – 3 January 1997); United States representative (13 April 1993 – 3 January 1995); member (1980–1993); mayor (1973–1979); member (1969–1973); United States representative ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q817877#P39))
- **Awards:** Presidential Citizens Medal ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q817877#P166))
- **X (Twitter):** BennieGThompson ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q817877#P2002))
- **Facebook:** 7259193379 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q817877#P2013))
- **Instagram:** benniegthompson ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q817877#P2003))
- **YouTube:** UCzt2pBxh0dI24kYrWretXRw ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q817877#P2397))

## Questions

**When was Bennie Thompson born?**  
Bennie Thompson was born on 28 January 1948 in Bolton.

**What positions has Bennie Thompson held?**  
Positions held by Bennie Thompson include: United States representative (since 3 January 2021); United States representative (2019–2021); United States representative (2017–2019); United States representative (2015–2017); United States representative (2013–2015).

**Where did Bennie Thompson study?**  
Bennie Thompson was educated at Tougaloo College, Jackson State University, Hinds County Agricultural High School.

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- [James Madison](https://diginpl.com/people/james-madison)
- [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://diginpl.com/people/lyndon-b-johnson)

## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Bennie Thompson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bennie_Thompson) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q817877](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q817877) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Bennie Thompson.jpg by U.S. Congress (Public domain)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bennie_Thompson.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Bennie Thompson, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Bennie Thompson.jpg — U.S. Congress, Public domain.

## Cite this page

"Bennie Thompson". DigiNepal. Last updated 3 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/bennie-thompson. Retrieved 15 November 2026.