'History in the making': Mississippi Rep. Thompson reacts to Colom's remarkable win

Let's get right to Congressman Benny Thompson. who was there last night. Until last night, he was Mississippi's sole. black elected. official in Congress. He's now got some pretty good company. Congressman, you were there. Please tell us what does this moment mean to. you and as importantly to your state? Well, there's no question about it. Last night on the campus of Tougaloo College, which I graduated from, it was a tremendous night. It was a night where, I THINK, WELL, WORTH IT. WE WORKED HARD. WE HAD A GOOD CANDIDATE.

WE HAD SOMEONE WHO PUT 23 MONTHS INTO A. CAMPAIGN. HE HIT EVERY COUNTY, every community. He excited the young people. He brought people together who had historically. been apart. So it was the black community, the white THE RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY, THE FRATERNITY COMMUNITY, THE AGRICULTURE COMMUNITY. A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE FELT LEFT OUT, HE BROUGHT ALL OF THEM TOGETHER AROUND.

his campaign and the energy last night. and the energy his campaign projected. throughout that period was just exciting. And I look back on me nominating him. as a fellow judge. And this candidate, the senator, bragged about stopping him from being. a fellow judge. Now it's kind of calmer for her in the fact. that uh scott cologne will now replace her.

in the united states senate yeah that. of course was 2022 when you had nominated um. scott colomb to serve as a u U .S. District Judge, who was Senator Cindy. Hyde-Smith, Republican he defeated, ultimately who blocked that. from happening. I want to ask you about that in a moment, but just in the simplest of terms. to the black community, and we detailed ahead. of this conversation the history. STORY THAT COLOMB IS MAKING THERE. WHAT DOES HIM SERVING AS THE. FIRST BLACK SENATOR FROM THAT. STATE SINCE THE 1880S, SINCE RECONSTRUCTION?

WHAT MESSAGE DOES THAT SEND TO THE YOUNG BLACK BOYS AND. GIRLS IN THAT STATE, INCLUDING HIS OWN DAUGHTERS? WELL, HIS TWO DAUGHTERS, THEY WERE THERE LAST NIGHT. OBVIOUSLY FOR YOUNG AFRICAN-AMERICANS, THEY THEY DON'T HAVE TO LOOK FORWARD TO LEAVING. MISSISSIPPI TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN. SCOTT SETS THE HIGH WATER MARK. THAT YOU CAN STAY IN MISSISSIPPI, YOU CAN DO certain things and you can make it so he. has set.

i think the best example because. for too long we've lost our most. talented individuals to the benefit. of other states and in the nation. So I'm excited, Peter, to tell you as someone who. met. Martin Luther King Jr. on that campus, who met Fannie Lou Hamer, I I represent the district that Mrs. Hamer ran for in. the 60s in Congress.

So, I now represent that district. So, there's a lot of history in the making. with Scott's election and let me tell you, the electricity last night was tremendous. The cooperation with local communities was. off the chain. But the other I WANT TO MAKE IS WE HAVE TO. CONVINCE PEOPLE IN WASHINGTON THAT THE GROWTH.

OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS IN THE SOUTH. ABSOLUTELY. SO I WANT TO ASK YOU about. that. How do you, beyond putting more. resources, let's be clear, Scott Cologne did this with. limited resources. What does that look like? How does the Democratic Party maintain. this majority in the South and continue. WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? WE STARTED THAT CONVERSATION WITH THE. SENATE LEADERSHIP ALREADY. IF YOU GENUELY WANT TO STAY IN. THE MAJORITY IN WASHINGTON, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO.

THE WORK THAT LOCAL PEOPLE PUT IN, IN MISSISSIPPI, SCOTT COLLON WOULD HAVE LOST BECAUSE ALL. OF THE INDICATORS SAID HE We couldn't win, but we never gave up. And at some point it became the hard work.

and a constant door knocking. People started paying attention. that I think all the group, the N .W .A .C .P. DID. A WONDERFUL EFFORT TO GET PEOPLE REGISTERED, ACLU WORKED, SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER. EVERYBODY CAN IMAGINE. AND COLOMB HAD A MESSAGE, I MEAN, I THINK ABOUT THAT viral ad right now, right? Pick another senator, pick another protein, pick another senator. I mean, that thing sticks in people's head. and was defining and really helped him deliver. a message that resonated with those who may.

not be paying such close attention. I want to ask I'M GOING TO ASK YOU ONE. OTHER QUESTION, IF I CAN, CONGRESSMAN, AS WE LOOK AHEAD TO THE NEW TERM. FOR THIS CONGRESS IN JANUARY. YOU CHAIRED THE HOUSE COMMITTEE. THEN INVESTIGATED THE JANUARY 6 ATTACKS, OF OF COURSE, YOU KNOW A THING OR TWO ABOUT INVESTIGATING DONALD. TRUMP. WE'RE NOW HEARING FROM THE TRUMP. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT THAT'S THREATENING. YOUR DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES, WARNING THEM WITH SOME PRETTY SINISTER THREATS, IN EFFECT SAYING IT WOULD BE A CRIME TO. INVESTIGATE THIS ADMINISTRATION. WHAT DOES THAT DO TO YOUR RESOLVE?

HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THOSE THREATS THAT. YOU'RE HEARING? WHAT DOES THAT DO TO BULLIES BEFORE. I DEALT WITH THEM ON THE JANUARY 6 COMMITTEE. WE'LL DEAL WITH THIS. NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW. SO IF THERE'S ANYONE IN THIS. ADMINISTRATION THAT'S BROKEN THE LAW. AND DOESN'T WANT CONGRESS TO DO OVERSIGHT ON IT, THEY'LL JUST HAVE TO WAIT AND FIND OUT. WE'RE GOI TO DO OUR JOB, AND I CAN PROMISE YOU.

THAT THERE ARE THINGS IN THE WORK. that will shock people in terms. of the grifting and the profiteering that's. gone. on in the last two years. Congressman Benny Thompson, I was very much looking. forward. to this conversation on a historic. morning acting after a historic. recent midterm election. We appreciate your time. Thank you for speaking with. me. Thank you for having me.