By Steven Palazzo, CPA
Why Seniority Matters for Mississippi
Influence. Relationships. Results.
Mississippi has never had the luxury of excess.
We are a proud state with deep roots and resilient communities. But by nearly every economic measure, we remain one of the poorest states in America. That is not rhetoric — it is reality. And in Washington, reality matters.
Federal resources are not distributed evenly out of goodwill. They are shaped by influence, relationships, and leverage. That is why seniority, relationships, and committee assignments are not political talking points. For Mississippi, they are tools of survival and growth.
Seniority Is Strength
In both the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate, seniority translates into influence. Long-serving members rise in rank. They gain leadership roles, secure key committee assignments, and understand the rules that determine what advances and what quietly stalls.
When Mississippi has seasoned members of Congress, we are not waiting in line — we are at the table.
Funding for infrastructure, agriculture, military installations, ports, flood control, health care, fisheries, and disaster recovery flows through committees and subcommittees. Senior members have a stronger hand in shaping those decisions and protecting their state’s priorities.
If we give up seniority, we compete against states whose delegations have spent decades building leverage. In Washington, experience compounds.
Relationships Deliver Results
Washington runs on relationships. Members who serve together build trust across party lines and cross regions. They know who to call when a hurricane strikes the Gulf Coast. They know how to protect agricultural programs and defend critical military missions like the “Flying Jennies” at Keesler Air Force Base.
For Mississippi, relationships are currency.
When our delegation has established working ties with appropriators, committee chairs, and Pentagon leadership, our calls are returned. We can protect installations from realignment threats. We can secure grants and pilot programs that might otherwise flow to larger states with louder voices.
Relationships built over time mean Mississippi’s priorities are not overlooked.
Committee Assignments Matter
Most Americans focus on votes on the House or Senate floor. But the real work happens in committees.
Armed Services. Appropriations. Agriculture. Transportation. Energy. These are the gatekeepers of federal policy and funding.
When Mississippi lawmakers sit on committees that oversee farming policy, disaster relief, rural broadband, military construction, fisheries management, and veterans’ services, they help shape the policies that directly affect our state.
Without those seats, our interests risk becoming an afterthought.
Committee assignments determine whether our shipbuilders, farmers, small businesses, fishermen, and veterans have advocates in the rooms where funding formulas are written.
Competition Is Real
Every state competes for federal dollars. No state steps aside and says, “We have enough.”
If Mississippi does not fight to protect our military missions, agriculture programs, ports, research institutions, and coastal industries, other states will gladly absorb those resources.
That is not pessimism — it is how the system works.
A seasoned congressional delegation understands this competition. They know when to defend what we have and when to push for new opportunities. They know how to protect Mississippi from losing ground in negotiations most voters never see.
Protecting and Building Mississippi’s Future
For a state with limited economic margins, stability matters. We cannot afford sudden losses of federal investment that ripple through rural communities and coastal economies.
Experienced lawmakers are better positioned to safeguard long-standing investments — from Gulf Coast defense missions to Delta flood control projects to agricultural safety nets. They are also better prepared to pursue emerging opportunities in shipbuilding, energy, advanced manufacturing, workforce development, and veterans’ health care.
This is not personal, it is pragmatic. It is about leverage.
Mississippi benefits when our representatives have earned influence in Washington. Seniority strengthens our voice. Relationships expand our reach. Committee assignments secure our seat at the table.
In Washington, power is accumulated. Influence is earned. For Mississippi, experience is not a luxury — it is an asset.
If we want to compete, If we want to protect what we have, If we want to build a stronger future, Then seniority matters. And Mississippi cannot afford to start over lightly.