Have you ever wondered what the net worth of Bennie Thompson is?
Bennie Thompson is a Congressman who currently serves as the representative of Mississippi’s 2nd Congressional district in the United States House of Representatives.
The district is considered the only majority-black district and it includes most of Jackson and borders the Mississippi river.
On top of that, Bennie Thompson is the longest-serving elected African American official in the state and has been the ranking member of the Committee on Homeland security since 2011.
As of May 2023, Bennie Thompson has a net worth of $1.5 million.
Table of Contents
Early Life
Bennie’s story is one of grit and determination. Despite growing up in a low-income neighborhood, he was determined to make something out of himself.
Thompson was born in Bolton, Mississippi, where he attended public schools before he graduated from Tougaloo College, a historically black private college in Mississippi.
Thompson earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science in 1968. After that, he earned a Master of Science in educational administration in 1972 from Jackson State University. After college, Thompson followed in his mother’s footsteps and became a school teacher.
However, that wasn’t enough for him as he became interested in civil rights activism. One of his major focuses was to prevent discrimination and protect the civil rights of minorities.
Bennie Thompson As a Civil Right Activist
Thompson’s early life was full of challenges that made him a determined civil rights activist. For example, in 1969, working as a teacher, he ran for the board of alderman for the first time in Bolton. And even though he won a seat, local officials denied the election results.
Thompson decided to file a lawsuit against local officials and finally won his position after being fired from his occupation as a high school teacher because they thought he was a negative influence.
Thompson served his hometown, Bolton, from 1969 to 1972 as an alderman. One year later, he became the city’s first black mayor and kept his position until 1980. That was a massive change in the political scene as African Americans weren’t allowed to vote in Mississippi until the 1960s.
During this period, he started the construction of the city hall and helped organize a reassessment of the town’s real state and infrastructure by repairing water and sewer systems and renovating houses.
Professional Career
After his political career took off as a mayor of Bolton, in 1993, Thompson was elected and eventually won a seat in the US House of Representatives, which has remained ever since. He has also been the only democrat in Mississippi’s congressional delegation since 2011.
Before taking the top democratic position in homeland security in 2005, Congressman Thompson worked on the budget, agriculture, and small business committees.
Soon after, his colleagues gave him a promotion, making him the first-ever Democratic Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee.
As a chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, Thompson introduced and supervised the most comprehensive homeland security measure since 2001, the “9/11 Commission Recommendations Act of 2007.”
Political Views
Bennie Thompson has been a staple in Mississippi politics for over 25 years. That being said, he has been praised and criticized for his stances on many issues. However, one thing is for sure, he always fought for the voiceless people of his home state.
He has also been a champion of economic development in Mississippi, helping create jobs and spur economic growth in the state. Here are some of the critical issues that Thompson highlighted on his website.
Civil Rights
Congressman Thompson constantly expresses his support for the fairness and equity outlined in the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
In addition, he believes that ensuring fair and non-discriminatory practices in communities, workplaces, and schools is crucial for the country to achieve its goals of out-educating, out-building, and out-innovating the rest of the world.
Education
Congressman Thompsonpon supports the idea of high standards for evaluating students and teachers. But he also thinks it’s essential for public school districts to get the funding they need to provide proper educational tools for teachers, students, and parents.
Energy and Environment
Congressman Thompson, alongside Congressional democrats, is dedicated to investing in the country’s clean energy future. This will help create the next generation of clean energy jobs, increase national security, and reduce the pollution that contributes to global warming.
Healthcare
United States Representative Thompson has always been concerned about access to healthcare services. Thompson and other democrats also believe insurance companies shouldn’t put insurance company bureaucrats between the patient and his doctor.
As a result, Thompson co-sponsored the Affordable Care Act, which expanded health care coverage to millions of Americans.
Response to National Crisis
As a member of the Democratic Party, Congressman Bennie Thompson has been a major player in response to any national crisis. He was one of the first members of Congress to call for a thorough investigation of what happened during the January 6th attack on the Capitol by Donald Trump supporters in 2021.
The NAACP, with Bennie Thompson, accused former president Donald Trump in a federal lawsuit of encouraging the violent riot at the U.S. Capitol.
Furthermore, Thompson has supported efforts to ensure that federal agencies are properly funded and staffed to face the COVID-19 pandemic. From increasing vaccine distribution to providing the needed economic relief to struggling families.
Most recently, Congressman Thompson joined with other members of the Congressional Black Caucus in introducing a COVID-19 Racial Equity Plan that provides funding for vaccine access, jobs, education, and housing in underserved communities.
Bennie Gordon Thompson Net Worth 2023
As of May 2023, American politician Bennie Thompson has an estimated net worth of $1.5 million. That’s quite impressive, considering he didn’t come from wealth and started from scratch in the Mississippi Delta.
Note that this is just an estimation, as there’s no official information about Bennie Thompson’s exact net worth.
Bennie Thompson earns around $400,000 per year from his job. However, we believe it’s not his only source of income. Besides his job in public service, Thompson also makes money through investments and business ventures.
He is involved in real estate development and owns several properties, including hotels and apartment complexes in his home state of Mississippi. He is also involved with several venture capital firms and private equity funds.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who’s Bennie Thompson’s wife?
Bennie Thompson’s spouse is his college sweetheart, London Thompson. They have one daughter, BendaLonne. Thompson has two grandchildren, Jeanna and Thomas.
What has been Congressman Bennie Thompson’s biggest accomplishment?
One of the most remarkable accomplishments of Congressman Bennie Thompson is helping with rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina, which destroyed the Gulf Coast.
Moreover, he helped introduce a bill that provides federal funding for programs to prevent crime and poverty in post-Katrina areas.
How do I contact Congressman Bennie Thompson?
The best way to contact Congressman Bennie Thompson is to send an e-mail or call any of his offices. You can find the contact information on his official website.
On the website, you can also find links to Thompon’s Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Youtube accounts/channels.
Key Takeaways
Always Root for Your People
One of the major reasons for Bennie Thompson’s success is that he was always an advocate for his hometown’s people, making him popular and successful during his tenure in Congress.
In addition to fighting against discrimination and racism, he worked towards addressing income equality, increasing healthcare assets, developing public education, and ensuring safe and secure communities.
Fight for Your Rights
In 1969, major local officials denied Bennie Thompson winning a seat on the board of alderman in Bolton. Despite that, Thompson didn’t back down and fought for his right by filing a lawsuit against some state officials; in the end, he won his position back.
Never Settle for Less
Despite growing up in a poor neighborhood, Thompson didn’t settle for a regular job to help support his family. He was always seeking more, and with hard work and determination, he’s now one of the most influential Congressmen in the country.