John Horhn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Horhn
|
|
|---|---|
.jpg) |
|
| 54th Mayor of Jackson | |
| Assumed office July 1, 2025 |
|
| Preceded by | Chokwe Antar Lumumba |
| Member of the Mississippi Senate from the 26th district |
|
| In office January 5, 1993 – July 1, 2025 |
|
| Preceded by | Cy Rosenblatt |
| Succeeded by | Vacant |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 8, 1955 Goodman, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | Centre College (BA) |
John A. Horhn (born February 8, 1955) is an American politician. He is the current mayor of Jackson, Mississippi. Before becoming mayor, he served in the Mississippi State Senate from 1993 to 2025. He represented the 26th district. John Horhn is a member of the Democratic Party. From 1989 to 1992, he was Mississippi's state tourism director.
He was the Democratic candidate in the 2025 Jackson mayoral election. He won this election with over 67% of the votes.
Contents
Early Life and Education
John Horhn was born on February 8, 1955, in Goodman, Mississippi. His father, Charlie, was a labor organizer. His mother, Willistene, worked in a public school cafeteria. His family moved to Jackson when he was very young.
He lived in different parts of Jackson as he grew up. He went to Morrison Elementary School. He was even the president of his class there. He finished his schooling in the Jackson Public School system.
In 1977, he earned a bachelor's degree in English and dramatic arts. He received this degree from Centre College. Later, he became a trustee for the college. He also studied leadership at Jackson State University and Duke University.
John Horhn's Career
John Horhn started his career helping people find jobs. From 1978 to 1980, he worked for the A. Philip Randolph Institute. After that, he led the Mississippi Cultural Arts Coalition from 1980 to 1981.
He then joined the Mississippi Arts Commission. He worked there as a program manager from 1981 to 1985. In 1985, he became the state film commissioner. He held this job until 1988.
From 1988, he worked for Governor Ray Mabus. He helped manage federal and state programs. In 1989, he became Mississippi's tourism director. He stayed in this role until 1992.
Mississippi Blues Commission
In 1991, John Horhn helped create the Mississippi Blues Commission. This group worked to find and map important blues music sites in Mississippi. Later, in 2004, he helped pass a law to make the commission official. Since 2011, he has been the vice chairman of the Mississippi Blues Foundation. This organization was started by the commission.
State Senator Role
John Horhn is a Democrat. He served as a state senator from 1993 until July 2025. He represented parts of Hinds and Madison counties. In the Mississippi State Senate, he led the Economic Development Committee. This committee works on improving the state's economy.
Campaigns for Mayor of Jackson
John Horhn ran for mayor of Jackson several times. He focused on important issues for the city. These issues included economic growth, improving roads, and making the city safer.
2009 Mayoral Campaign
In January 2009, Horhn announced he would run for mayor. He focused on economic development, city services, and crime. He did not win the Democratic primary election that year.
2014 Mayoral Campaign
On March 12, 2014, Horhn announced his candidacy again. He talked about his experience as a state senator. He wanted to improve city services for everyone. He did not win the Democratic primary this time either.
2017 Mayoral Campaign
In January 2017, Horhn ran for mayor once more. He highlighted his achievements in the state senate. He also spoke about the good relationships he had built. His campaign was more successful than his previous attempts. He came in second place in the Democratic primary.
2025 Mayoral Campaign
In October 2024, Horhn announced he would run for mayor in 2025. His main goals were to fix abandoned properties and boost the economy. He also wanted to create a plan for Jackson's future.
In the first round of the Democratic primary on April 1, 2025, he received 48.4% of the votes. He then went to a runoff election against Chokwe Antar Lumumba. Horhn won the runoff by a large margin, getting about 74% of the votes. In the general election on June 3, 2025, he faced other candidates. He was elected mayor with over 67% of the votes.
Mayor of Jackson, Mississippi
On July 1, 2025, John Horhn was sworn into office. The ceremony was led by U.S. Congressman Bennie Thompson. Many important people from Mississippi attended. These included former Jackson mayors J. Kane Ditto and Harvey Johnson. Also present were Mississippi Lieutenant Governor Delbert Hosemann and Governor Tate Reeves.
Personal Life
John Horhn is married and has two children. He is a member of the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc.
