U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) has officially been elevated to the chair position of a key Senate committee as a new Congress is set to convene.
Beginning January 3, the 119th Congress will convene in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. Wicker will take the reins as the chair of the Armed Services Committee – considered a critical position in the Senate. He will be the first Mississippi official to hold the position since the late John Stennis did so during the Vietnam War.
After the Republican Party earned a majority during the November elections, Wicker takes the place of Rep. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) as the top committee member. The move was confirmed in a press release from incoming Senate majority leader Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.).
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Wicker has served in the U.S. Senate since 2007, adding another term to his tenure after defeating Democratic challenger Ty Pinkins in the 2024 general election. Amidst a GOP-controlled Congress and Republican president-elect Donald Trump regaining the White House, the Pontotoc native will be considered one of the most influential officials in Washington D.C.
Over in the House, Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) was recently tabbed to remain as the ranking member of the Homeland Security Committee.
