Who Is Running in Mississippi Congressional District 2nd in 2026?

Congressman Bennie Thompson strongly supports job creation and economic revitalization, advocating for initiatives like the Make It in America agenda, which includes the Small Business Jobs Act. He believes job creation is Congress's top priority, and supported the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to strengthen the economy. Thompson has also criticized claims of a strong economy when working families face difficulties affording basic necessities.

Bennie Thompson advocates for accessible healthcare for all Americans, criticizing Republican policies such as H.R. 1, which he states cut $1 trillion from Medicaid and capped medical school student loans. He argues these actions limit healthcare coverage, increase costs, and hinder the training of future healthcare professionals. Thompson supports expanding funding for children's hospitals and opposed the expiration of Affordable Care Act tax credits.

Bennie Thompson voted in favor of the Women's Health Protection Act of 2021 (H.R. 3755), which aimed to prohibit governmental restrictions on abortion services and access. More recently, in January 2026, he voted against both the Pregnant Students' Rights Act and the Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act. Thompson has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey, and his 2026 voting record does not explicitly mention other specific positions on abortion.

Bennie Thompson is committed to reauthorizing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) to provide federal aid to K-12 education. He advocates for increased funding for public school districts to offer innovative educational tools to teachers, parents, and students. This aims to close achievement gaps and raise outcomes for all children. Thompson is also a co-sponsor of the Rebuild America’s Schools Act of 2026, which proposes over $130 billion for school infrastructure, focusing on high-poverty schools.