Mississippi's 2nd congressional district

Mississippi's 2nd congressional district
Mississippi's 2nd congressional district since January 3, 2013
Current Representative	Bennie Thompson (D–Bolton)
Area	14,519.68 sq mi (37,605.8 km2)
Distribution	62.67% urban 37.33% rural
Population (2006)	711,164
Median income	26,894
Ethnicity	35.0% White 63.5% Black 0.4% Asian 1.2% Hispanic 0.2% Native American 0.6% other
Cook PVI	D+14[1]

Mississippi's 2nd congressional district (MS-2) is the only majority-black district in the U.S. state, covering much of Western Mississippi. The district 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.

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 black-majority (then Republican) areas of the Mississippi Delta. By this gerrymandering, they created five other districts with white majorities.^[2]

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.^[3]

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 20th-century realignment of political parties in the South following passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965, which provided federal oversight and enforcement to protect voting, African-American residents here have consistently supported Democratic party candidates. Most white conservatives have shifted into the Republican Party and dominate the legislature.

The district's current Representative is Democrat Bennie Thompson.

Election results

List of representatives

Name	Years of Service	Party	Notes
District created March 4, 1845
Stephen Adams	March 4, 1845 - March 3, 1847	Democratic
Winfield S. Featherston	March 4, 1847 - March 3, 1851	Democratic
John A. Wilcox	March 4, 1851 - March 3, 1853	Unionist
William T. S. Barry	March 4, 1853 - March 3, 1855	Democratic
Hendley S. Bennett	March 4, 1855 - March 3, 1857	Democratic
Reuben Davis	March 4, 1857 - January 12, 1861	Democratic	Withdrew
Civil War and Reconstruction
Joseph L. Morphis	February 23, 1870 - March 3, 1873	Republican
Albert R. Howe	March 4, 1873 - March 3, 1875	Republican
G. Wiley Wells	March 4, 1875 - March 3, 1877	Independent Republican
Van H. Manning	March 4, 1877 - March 3, 1883	Democratic
Vacant		March 4, 1883 - June 25, 1884
James R. Chalmers	June 25, 1884 - March 3, 1885	Independent	Seated after contested election with Van H. Manning
James B. Morgan	March 4, 1885 - March 3, 1891	Democratic
John C. Kyle	March 4, 1891 - March 3, 1897	Democratic
William V. Sullivan	March 4, 1897 - May 31, 1898	Democratic	Appointed U.S. Senator
Vacant		May 31, 1898 - July 5, 1898
Thomas Spight	July 5, 1898 - March 3, 1911	Democratic
Hubert D. Stephens	March 4, 1911 - March 3, 1921	Democratic
Bill G. Lowrey	March 4, 1921 - March 3, 1929	Democratic
Wall Doxey	March 4, 1929 - September 28, 1941	Democratic	Elected to U.S. Senate
Vacant		September 28, 1941 - November 4, 1941
Jamie Whitten	November 4, 1941 - January 3, 1973	Democratic	Redistricted to the 1st district
David R. Bowen	January 3, 1973 - January 3, 1983	Democratic
Webb Franklin	January 3, 1983 - January 3, 1987	Republican
Mike Espy	January 3, 1987 - January 22, 1993	Democratic	Resigned after being confirmed as United States Secretary of Agriculture
Vacant		January 22, 1993 - April 13, 1993
Bennie Thompson	April 13, 1993–Present	Democratic	Incumbent

Historical district boundaries

2003 - 2013

See also

• Mississippi's congressional districts
• List of United States congressional districts

References

• 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

Coordinates: 33°10′35″N 90°21′03″W / 33.17639°N 90.35083°W / 33.17639; -90.35083