David Lee Jordan (born April 3, 1933)[1] is an American politician who is a former Democratic member of the Mississippi State Senate, representing the 24th District from 1993 to 2025. Jordan is the son of a sharecropper who participated in the Civil Rights Movement, and worked for 33 years as a schoolteacher in Mississippi public schools.[2] He retired in June 2025.[3]
David Lee Jordan | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Mississippi State Senate from the 24th district | |
| In office January 5, 1993 – June 30, 2025 | |
| Succeeded by | Justin Pope |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 3, 1933 |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Christine Bell Jordan |
| University of Wyoming Mississippi Valley State University | |
| Occupation | Politician, educator |
Biography
editDavid Lee Jordan was born on April 3, 1933, in Greenwood, Mississippi.[4] Jordan spent his early life as a sharecropper alongside his family.[3] He was able to attend school only after December each year.[3] Jordan graduated from Broad Street High School.[4] Jordan served in the U.S. Army Reserve from 1955 to 1961.[4] He attended Mississippi Valley State University, graduating with a B. S. in natural science in 1959.[4] He later attended the University of Wyoming, graduating with a M. S. in chemistry in 1969.[3][4] In 1970 he became a science teacher at the W. C. Williams school in Greenwood.[4] In 1975, he ran for the Mississippi House of Representatives against Bunky Huggins.[4]
In 1985, he became part of the Greenwood City Council and was the first black person on the council.[3] He was elected to the Mississippi State Senate in 1992.[3] Jordan resigned from the Senate in the middle of the 2024-2028 term and was succeeded by Justin Pope.[3][5]
Personal life
editReferences
edit- ↑ "Greenwood City Councilman". billstatus.ls.state.ms.us. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
- ↑ Ganucheau, Adam (January 24, 2022). "How Black senators controlled the narrative on a historic day at the Capitol". Mississippi Today. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Parker, Brooke (May 28, 2025). "After 32 years in office, Mississippi Senator announces retirement at 92". WDAM. Retrieved June 1, 2025.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "District 34". The Greenwood Commonwealth. July 29, 1979. p. 51. Retrieved January 9, 2026.
- ↑ Smith, Jaylin R. (December 3, 2025). "Justin Pope Wins Mississippi Senate District 24 Runoff, Replacing Sen. David Jordan After 33 Years". Mississippi Free Press. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
- ↑ "SR 1 (As Adopted by Senate) - 2025 1st Extraordinary Session". billstatus.ls.state.ms.us. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
External links
edit- Mississippi State Senate profile of David Jordan
- Project Vote Smart profile of Jordan
- Follow the Money - David Lee Jordan
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