Biography:

Bennie G. Thompson was born in Bolton, Miss., and resides there. He attended public schools in Hinds County. He received a bachelor's degree in political science from Tougaloo College in 1968 and a master's degree in educational administration from Jackson State University in 1972.

He served for four years as alderman of Bolton from 1969 to 1973, then six years as its mayor, from 1973 to 1979. Thompson was elected to the Hinds County Board of Supervisors in 1980 and served on the board until 1993.

He was elected to the U.S. House in a 1993 special election to fill the vacancy left by Rep. Mike Espy, who was named secretary of Agriculture. He was elected to his first full term in the U.S. House in 1994.

Thompson and his wife, London Johnson, have one child.

Past Campaigns:

Bennie Thompson was elected to the U.S. House in a special runoff in 1993, defeating Republican Hayes Dent with 55 percent of the vote. He was elected to a full term in 1994, defeating Republican Bill Jordan with 53 percent of the vote.

In 1996, he was re-elected with 59 percent of the vote against Republican Danny Covington.

Thompson won re-election in 1998 and 2000 without major party opposition.

He was re-elected in 2002 with 54 percent of the vote.

He previously served as a Hinds County supervisor, as mayor of Bolton, Miss., and as an alderman of Bolton.

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