Roger Wicker is continuing a long tradition of Mississippians serving in powerful positions in the U.S. Senate.
It was expected when Republicans recaptured the Senate majority in the November general election that Wicker, a Tupelo Republican, would be tabbed to chair the Senate Armed Services Committee. So it was no surprise when incoming Majority Leader John Thune, a South Dakota Republican, confirmed recently that the Republican majority had selected Wicker to chair the influential committee when the new Senate convenes in January.
The Armed Services Committee provides oversight of the nation’s military and defense apparatus, including playing a key role in setting the budget for the Department of Defense. Wicker had said he wants to continue the tradition of former President Ronald Reagan of peace through strength — of having a military so powerful that it would deter military action by rival countries. It could be argued, though, that for decades the U.S. military has stood head and shoulders above other militaries in the world.
It makes sense that Wicker would chair the important committee. He served as a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force and later in the Air Force Reserves. In addition to his military service, Wicker has another valuable commodity: Senate seniority.
Wicker, age 73, has been in the Senate since 2007 — appointed to a vacant post on New Year’s Eve by then-Gov. Haley Barbour. Wicker won a special election in November 2008 to continue his service and has easily won reelection since then.
Other Mississippians have served in key Senate positions thanks at least in part to their seniority.
Thad Cochran, who stepped down in 2018, served in key posts, including as Appropriations chair. And of course, Trent Lott, who served alongside Cochran for most of his tenure, served as Senate majority leader.
Before Cochran and Lott, there were James Eastland and John Stennis representing Mississippi in the Senate. Eastland chaired the Judiciary Committee, and Stennis was the first chair of the Ethics Committee. Stennis also chaired Armed Services during the tumultuous Vietnam War and Appropriations late in his tenure.
For much of Stennis’ 42-year tenure, he served as the junior senator from Mississippi. Eastland won election to the Senate in 1942 compared to 1947 for Stennis.
At one point, Eastland and Stennis were the Senate’s longest serving duo.
The life expectancy in Mississippi is 74.6 years, according to the World Population Review. Based on that number, the average Mississippian has seen only six people serving in the two U.S. Senate slots in his or her lifetime.
There were Eastland/Stennis, followed by Cochran and Lott and now Wicker and Cindy Hyde-Smith.
Hyde-Smith was appointed to a vacant slot in 2018 by then-Gov. Phil Bryant. She was elected to the post in a special election later in 2018 and in a regular election in 2020. Her current term will end in 2026. Whether Hyde-Smith, age 65, will seek another term and try to continue the trend of Mississippians building up seniority in the U.S. Senate remains to be seen.
But needless to say, there is no more job security in Mississippi than being in the U.S. Senate.
A matter of fact, the same could be said for serving in any statewide elected post in Mississippi. The last statewide incumbent to be defeated was Insurance Commissioner George Dale in 2007. Before then, it was Gov. Ronnie Musgrove in 2003. Musgrove burst on the statewide political scene by upending Lt. Gov. Eddie Briggs in 1995.
The last incumbent Mississippi U.S. senator to lose a reelection bid was Wall Doxey in 1942.
Talk about job security.
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