Bennie Thompson

Bennie Thompson
Official portrait, 2023
Ranking Member of the House Homeland Security Committee
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2023
Preceded by	John Katko
In office January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2019
Preceded by	Peter King
Succeeded by	Mike Rogers
In office January 3, 2005 – January 3, 2007
Preceded by	Jim Turner
Succeeded by	Peter King
Chair of the House January 6th Committee
In office July 1, 2021 – January 3, 2023
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Position abolished
Chair of the House Homeland Security Committee
In office January 3, 2019 – January 3, 2023
Preceded by	Michael McCaul
Succeeded by	Mark Green
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
Incumbent
Assumed office April 13, 1993
Preceded by	Mike Espy
Personal details
Born	Bennie Gordon Thompson (1948-01-28) January 28, 1948 (age 76) Bolton, Mississippi, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	London Johnson ​ (m. 1968)​
Children	1
Education	Tougaloo College (BA) Jackson State University (MS)
Signature
Website	House website
Bennie Thompson's voice Bennie Thompson speaks in support of H.R.1494, the HBCUs Homeland Security Partnerships Act Recorded February 10, 2020

Bennie Gordon Thompson (born January 28, 1948) is an American politician 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.^[1] He was both the first Democrat and the first African American to chair the committee. He is the dean of Mississippi's congressional delegation since 2018 after Thad Cochran left Congress, as well as its only Democrat.

Since 2011, Thompson has been the only Democrat in Mississippi's congressional delegation. His district includes most of Jackson and is the only majority-black district in the state. It is about 275 miles (443 km) long, 180 miles (290 km) wide, and borders the Mississippi River. The Mississippi Delta comprises the vast majority of the district.