Mississippi's 2nd congressional district (MS-2) covers much of Western Mississippi. It includes most of Jackson, the riverfront cities of Greenville and Vicksburg and the interior market cities of Clarksdale, Greenwood and Clinton. The district is approximately 275 miles (443 km) long, 180 miles (290 km) wide and borders the Mississippi River; it encompasses much of the Mississippi Delta, and a total of 15 counties and parts of several others. It is the only majority-black district in the state.
Mississippi's 2nd congressional district
Interactive map of district boundaries since January 3, 2023
From statehood to the election of 1846, Mississippi elected representatives at-large statewide on a general ticket. This favored candidates who could command a majority of the voters, then consisting mostly of white men of property.
Following Reconstruction, the Democratic Party regained control of the state legislature and worked to reduce Republican voting strength in the state. It redefined congressional districts, creating a 'shoestring' congressional district running the length of the Mississippi River and taking in the majority-black (then Republican) areas of the Mississippi Delta. By this gerrymandering, they created five other districts with white majorities.[4]
Election campaigns were often accompanied by fraud and violence as Democrats tried to reduce black Republican voting. Finally, the Democratic-dominated legislature passed a new constitution in 1890, with barriers to voter registration and other measures that effectively disenfranchised most blacks and many poor whites for decades, subduing the Republican and Populist movements of the late 19th century.[5]
The legislature has redefined congressional districts over the years to reflect population changes in the state. Districts 5 through 8 were reallocated to the 1st, 3rd and 4th. The 2nd, bounded by the Mississippi River on the west, continues to have a black-majority population. Since the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965, which provided federal oversight and enforcement to protect voting rights, African American residents here have consistently supported Democratic Party candidates. On the other hand, most white conservatives have shifted into the Republican Party, which would eventually dominate the state legislature. The district is one of the poorest in the U.S.,[6] with 26.2% of people in poverty as of 2017.[7]
^"2022 Cook PVI: District Map and List". Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
^Eric Foner, Reconstruction, 1863-1877, New York: Perennial Classics, p. 590.
^Michael Perman, Struggle for Mastery: Disfranchisement in the South, 1888-1908 (2000), ch 4.
^"Rich, poor, young, old: Congressional districts at a glance | Bloomberg Government". Bloomberg Government. September 15, 2017. Retrieved November 21, 2018.
^"datatables". www.frac.org. Retrieved November 21, 2018.
^"Certification of Votes For United States House of Representatives, District Two" (PDF). Secretary of State of Mississippi. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
^"MS - District 02". Our Campaigns. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
Martis, Kenneth C. (1989). The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
Martis, Kenneth C. (1982). The Historical Atlas of United States Congressional Districts. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
mississippi, congressional, district, covers, much, western, mississippi, includes, most, jackson, riverfront, cities, greenville, vicksburg, interior, market, cities, clarksdale, greenwood, clinton, district, approximately, miles, long, miles, wide, borders, . Mississippi s 2nd congressional district MS 2 covers much of Western Mississippi It includes most of Jackson the riverfront cities of Greenville and Vicksburg and the interior market cities of Clarksdale Greenwood and Clinton The district is approximately 275 miles 443 km long 180 miles 290 km wide and borders the Mississippi River it encompasses much of the Mississippi Delta and a total of 15 counties and parts of several others It is the only majority black district in the state Mississippi s 2nd congressional districtInteractive map of district boundaries since January 3 2023Representative Bennie ThompsonD BoltonArea14 519 68 sq mi 37 605 8 km2 Distribution62 67 urban37 33 ruralPopulation 2021 723 186 1 Median householdincome 37 933 2 Ethnicity65 6 Black31 1 White1 9 Hispanic0 6 Two or more races0 5 Asian0 4 otherCook PVID 11 3 The district is home to four of Mississippi s eight public four year colleges and universities Alcorn State University in Lorman Delta State University in Cleveland Jackson State University in Jackson and Mississippi Valley State University in Itta Bena a few miles west of Greenwood All except Delta State are HBCUs and are members of the Southwestern Athletic Conference From statehood to the election of 1846 Mississippi elected representatives at large statewide on a general ticket This favored candidates who could command a majority of the voters then consisting mostly of white men of property Following Reconstruction the Democratic Party regained control of the state legislature and worked to reduce Republican voting strength in the state It redefined congressional districts creating a shoestring congressional district running the length of the Mississippi River and taking in the majority black then Republican areas of the Mississippi Delta By this gerrymandering they created five other districts with white majorities 4 Election campaigns were often accompanied by fraud and violence as Democrats tried to reduce black Republican voting Finally the Democratic dominated legislature passed a new constitution in 1890 with barriers to voter registration and other measures that effectively disenfranchised most blacks and many poor whites for decades subduing the Republican and Populist movements of the late 19th century 5 The legislature has redefined congressional districts over the years to reflect population changes in the state Districts 5 through 8 were reallocated to the 1st 3rd and 4th The 2nd bounded by the Mississippi River on the west continues to have a black majority population Since the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965 which provided federal oversight and enforcement to protect voting rights African American residents here have consistently supported Democratic Party candidates On the other hand most white conservatives have shifted into the Republican Party which would eventually dominate the state legislature The district is one of the poorest in the U S 6 with 26 2 of people in poverty as of 2017 7 The district s current Representative is Democrat Bennie Thompson Contents 1 Election results from statewide races 2 Recent election results 2 1 2000 2 2 2002 2 3 2004 2 4 2006 2 5 2008 2 6 2010 2 7 2012 2 8 2014 2 9 2016 2 10 2018 2 11 2020 2 12 2022 3 List of members representing the district 4 See also 5 ReferencesElection results from statewide races EditYear Office Result2000 President Gore 59 39 2004 President Kerry 57 40 2008 President Obama 66 34 2012 President Obama 66 33 2016 President Clinton 64 35 2018 Senate Baria 61 38 Senate Spec Espy 68 32 2019 Governor Hood 66 33 2020 President Biden 64 35 Senate Espy 66 33 Recent election results Edit2000 Edit 2000 United States House of Representatives elections in Mississippi District 2 Party Candidate Votes Democratic Bennie Thompson Incumbent 112 777 65 07Republican Hardy Caraway 54 090 31 21Libertarian William G Chipman 4 305 2 48Reform Lee F Dilworth 2 135 1 23Turnout 173 307Majority 58 687 33 862002 Edit 2002 United States House of Representatives elections in Mississippi District 2 Party Candidate Votes Democratic Bennie Thompson Incumbent 89 913 55 14 9 93Republican Clinton B LeSueur 69 711 42 75 11 54Reform Lee F Dilworth 3 426 2 10 0 87Turnout 163 050Majority 20 202 12 392004 Edit 2004 United States House of Representatives elections in Mississippi District 2 Party Candidate Votes Democratic Bennie Thompson Incumbent 154 626 58 38 3 24Republican Clinton B LeSueur 107 647 40 64 2 11Reform Shawn O Hara 2 596 0 98 1 12Turnout 264 869Majority 46 979 17 742006 Edit 2006 United States House of Representatives elections in Mississippi District 2 Party Candidate Votes Democratic Bennie Thompson Incumbent 100 168 64 27 5 89Republican Yvonne R Brown 55 672 35 73 4 91Turnout 155 832Majority 44 496 28 552008 Edit 2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Mississippi District 2 Party Candidate Votes Democratic Bennie Thompson Incumbent 201 606 69 05 4 78Republican Richard Cook 90 364 30 95 4 78Turnout 291 970Majority 111 242 38 102010 Edit 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Mississippi District 2 Party Candidate Votes Democratic Bennie Thompson Incumbent 105 327 61 47 7 58Republican Bill Marcy 64 499 37 64 6 69Reform Ashley Norwood 1 530 0 89 N ATotal votes 171 356 100 00Democratic hold2012 Edit 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Mississippi District 2 Party Candidate Votes Democratic Bennie Thompson Incumbent 214 978 67 13 5 66Republican Bill Marcy 99 160 30 96 6 68Independent Cobby Williams 4 605 1 44 N AReform Lajena Williams 1 501 0 47 0 42Total votes 320 244 100 00Democratic hold2014 Edit 2014 United States House of Representatives elections in Mississippi District 2 Party Candidate Votes Democratic Bennie Thompson Incumbent 100 688 67 7Independent Troy Ray 36 465 24 5Reform Shelley Shoemake 11 493 7 7Total votes 148 646 100 00Democratic hold2016 Edit 2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Mississippi District 2 Party Candidate Votes Democratic Bennie Thompson Incumbent 192 343 67 1Republican John Bouie II 83 542 29 1Independent Troy Ray 6 918 2 4Reform Johnny McLeod 3 823 1 3Total votes 286 626 100 00Democratic hold2018 Edit 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Mississippi District 2 Party Candidate Votes Democratic Bennie Thompson Incumbent 158 921 71 8Independent Troy Ray 48 104 21 7Reform Irving Harris 14 354 6 5Total votes 221 379 100 00Democratic hold2020 Edit 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Mississippi District 2 Party Candidate Votes Democratic Bennie Thompson Incumbent 196 331 66 2Republican Brian Flowers 101 037 33 9Total votes 297 368 100 00Democratic hold2022 Edit 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Mississippi District 2 8 Party Candidate Votes Democratic Bennie Thompson incumbent 108 285 60 10Republican Brian Flowers 71 884 39 90Total votes 180 169 100Democratic holdList of members representing the district EditName Party Years of Service Congress Electoral history District location and mapDistrict created March 4 1847 Winfield S Featherston Houston Democratic March 4 1847 March 3 1851 30th31st Elected in 1846 Re elected in 1848 Lost re election as a Southern Rights candidate 9 John A Wilcox Aberdeen Unionist March 4 1851 March 3 1853 32nd Elected in 1851 Lost re election as a Whig William T S Barry Greenwood Democratic March 4 1853 March 3 1855 33rd Elected in 1853 Retired to run for state representative Hendley S Bennett Grenada Democratic March 4 1855 March 3 1857 34th Elected in 1855 Lost renomination Reuben Davis Aberdeen Democratic March 4 1857 January 12 1861 35th36th Elected in 1857 Re elected in 1859 Withdrew due to Civil War Vacant January 12 1861 February 23 1870 36th37th38th39th40th41st Civil War and Reconstruction Joseph L Morphis Pontotoc Republican February 23 1870 March 3 1873 41st42nd Elected in 1869 to finish the term and to the next term Lost renomination Albert R Howe Sardis Republican March 4 1873 March 3 1875 43rd Elected in 1872 Lost re election G Wiley Wells Holly Springs Independent Republican March 4 1875 March 3 1877 44th Elected in 1874 Retired Van H Manning Holly Springs Democratic March 4 1877 March 3 1883 45th46th47th Elected in 1876 Re elected in 1878 Re elected in 1880 Re elected in 1882 but lost contested election Vacant March 4 1883 June 25 1884 48th James R Chalmers Sardis Independent June 25 1884 March 3 1885 Seated after contested election with Van H Manning Lost re election James B Morgan Hernando Democratic March 4 1885 March 3 1891 49th50th51st Elected in 1884 Re elected in 1886 Re elected in 1888 Retired John C Kyle Sardis Democratic March 4 1891 March 3 1897 52nd53rd54th Elected in 1890 Re elected in 1892 Re elected in 1894 Retired William V Sullivan Oxford Democratic March 4 1897 May 31 1898 55th Elected in 1896 Resigned when appointed U S senator Vacant May 31 1898 July 5 1898 Thomas Spight Ripley Democratic July 5 1898 March 3 1911 55th56th57th58th59th60th61st Elected to finish Sullivan s term Re elected in 1898 Re elected in 1900 Re elected in 1902 Re elected in 1904 Re elected in 1906 Re elected in 1908 Lost renomination Hubert D Stephens New Albany Democratic March 4 1911 March 3 1921 62nd63rd64th65th66th Elected in 1910 Re elected in 1912 Re elected in 1914 Re elected in 1916 Re elected in 1918 Retired Bill G Lowrey Blue Mountain Democratic March 4 1921 March 3 1929 67th68th69th70th Elected in 1920 Re elected in 1922 Re elected in 1924 Re elected in 1926 Lost renomination Wall Doxey Holly Springs Democratic March 4 1929 September 28 1941 71st72nd73rd74th75th76th77th Elected in 1928 Re elected in 1930 Re elected in 1932 Re elected in 1934 Re elected in 1936 Re elected in 1938 Re elected in 1940 Resigned when elected U S senator Vacant September 28 1941 November 4 1941 77th Jamie Whitten Charleston Democratic November 4 1941 January 3 1973 77th78th79th80th81st82nd83rd84th85th86th87th88th89th90th91st92nd Elected to finish Doxey s term Re elected in 1942 Re elected in 1944 Re elected in 1946 Re elected in 1948 Re elected in 1950 Re elected in 1952 Re elected in 1954 Re elected in 1956 Re elected in 1958 Re elected in 1960 Re elected in 1962 Re elected in 1964 Re elected in 1966 Re elected in 1968 Re elected in 1970 Redistricted to the 1st district David R Bowen Cleveland Democratic January 3 1973 January 3 1983 93rd94th95th96th97th Elected in 1972 Re elected in 1974 Re elected in 1976 Re elected in 1978 Re elected in 1980 Retired Webb Franklin Greenwood Republican January 3 1983 January 3 1987 98th99th Elected in 1982 Re elected in 1984 Lost re election Mike Espy Yazoo City Democratic January 3 1987 January 22 1993 100th101st102nd103rd Elected in 1986 Re elected in 1988 Re elected in 1990 Re elected in 1992 Resigned to become U S Secretary of Agriculture Vacant January 22 1993 April 13 1993 103rd Bennie Thompson Bolton Democratic April 13 1993 present 103rd104th105th106th107th108th109th110th111th112th113th114th115th116th117th118th Elected to finish Espy s term Re elected in 1994 Re elected in 1996 Re elected in 1998 Re elected in 2000 Re elected in 2002 Re elected in 2004 Re elected in 2006 Re elected in 2008 Re elected in 2010 Re elected in 2012 Re elected in 2014 Re elected in 2016 Re elected in 2018 Re elected in 2020 Re elected in 2022 2003 2013 2013 2023 2023 present See also Edit United States portal Mississippi portalMississippi s congressional districts List of United States congressional districtsReferences Edit My Congressional District My Congressional District 2022 Cook PVI District Map and List Cook Political Report Retrieved January 10 2023 Eric Foner Reconstruction 1863 1877 New York Perennial Classics p 590 Michael Perman Struggle for Mastery Disfranchisement in the South 1888 1908 2000 ch 4 Rich poor young old Congressional districts at a glance Bloomberg Government Bloomberg Government September 15 2017 Retrieved November 21 2018 datatables www frac org Retrieved November 21 2018 Certification of Votes For United States House of Representatives District Two PDF Secretary of State of Mississippi Retrieved December 13 2022 MS District 02 Our Campaigns Retrieved March 9 2021 Martis Kenneth C 1989 The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress New York Macmillan Publishing Company Martis Kenneth C 1982 The Historical Atlas of United States Congressional Districts New York Macmillan Publishing Company Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774 present 33 10 35 N 90 21 03 W 33 17639 N 90 35083 W 33 17639 90 35083 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mississippi 27s 2nd congressional district amp oldid 1166065576, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
