Mississippi oilman and Adams County Supervisor Kevin Wilson has officially launched his campaign for Congress, seeking the seat held by longtime Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson.
Prospective voters and members of the media gathered at Bluff Park in Natchez on Monday, as Wilson outlined his reasoning for tossing his hat in the ring for an opportunity to represent Mississippi’s 2nd Congressional District. The Republican is the state’s largest independent oil and natural gas producer and is serving his second term as a supervisor, having spent the last two years as president of the county board.
“Leadership is about results and caring about the people you serve. That’s why I’m running for Congress. Washington is broken. It is too focused on politics. Our communities deserve representation that understands hard work, business, faith, family, and knows how federal decisions affect real lives back home,” Wilson said. “I’m running to fight for working families, small businesses, and rural communities.”
Motivated by his faith, Wilson said he searched for signs from above before committing to a run for office, and that a church service solidified his decision. His pastor told him that he should run because there is a need for “good Christian men” in Congress.
“I didn’t wake up one day and decide to run for Congress. I’m the least likely politician you’ll ever meet,” Wilson said. “My faith is the foundation of my life. It guides my decisions, keeps me grounded, and reminds me that leadership is about service, not status. Family matters. Community matters.”
Wilson did not delve much into public policy during his campaign kickoff, though he said his focus was on “the basics,” citing roads, infrastructure, public safety, and the responsible use of tax dollars as his legislative priorities. Highlighting his private-sector background, Wilson said he can be trusted because he handles public money with as much care as he does with his business.
“I’m not a career politician. I’m a businessman. I built an oil company from the ground up. I know what it means to take risks, meet payroll, and make hard decisions,” Wilson added. “Today, that business has grown into the largest independent oil producer in the great state of Mississippi. That didn’t happen by accident. It happened through hard work, accountability, and perseverance. That business experience led me to public service.”
Wilson must win the Republican primary on March 10 before potentially meeting Thompson in the November general election. Ron Eller, a cardiothoracic physician assistant in Jackson who was the GOP nominee in 2024 before losing to Thompson, is also running.
On the Democratic ticket, Thompson is being challenged by Evan Turnage, a Yale-educated attorney with ties to some of Washington’s most powerful Democrats, and Pertis Williams III. Bennie Foster is the lone independent vying for the seat.