Bradford Blackmon
Bradford Blackmon | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Mississippi State Senate from the 21st district | |
| Assumed office January 2, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Barbara Blackmon |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Bradford Jerome Blackmon December 21, 1988 Jackson, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Parents | |
| Relatives | Lawrence Blackmon (brother) |
| Education | |
| Occupation |
|
Bradford Jerome Blackmon (born December 21, 1988) is an American attorney and Democrat in the Mississippi State Senate from the 21st district since 2023. A son of state representative Edward Blackmon Jr. and state senator Barbara Blackmon, he was elected to succeed his mother after she purposefully dropped out of her re-election race to clear the field for her son.[1][2]
Born in Jackson, Mississippi, Blackmon attended St. Andrew's Episcopal School, becoming a star football player.[3] He was recruited to the football team for the University of Pennsylvania, where he majored in political science. He later received a Juris Doctor from the University of Mississippi School of Law. He now works as an attorney at a law firm owned by his parents and serves as a city prosecutor for Magnolia, Mississippi.
Blackmon drew national attention in January 2025 after introducing the Contraception Begins at Erection Act, a satiric bill that would make it illegal for a man to discharge semen without the intent to fertilize an embryo.[4]
Early life and education
Blackmon was born on December 21, 1988 in Jackson, Mississippi.[5][6] His mother is state senator Barbara Blackmon and his father is state representative Edward Blackmon Jr.; his brother is Lawrence Blackmon, a state representative.[1]
He attended St. Andrew's Episcopal School and while there was on the student council and later the football team.[7][8][6] He was a star player for the team and recognized by the Mississippi House in a resolution.[3][9] While a student at St. Andrews, he was a Mississippi State Senate page.[10][11]
He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Arts in political science.[5][6] He was recruited to join the university's football team, choosing it over Cornell University and Jackson State University, his parents' alma mater.[6][12] He received a Juris Doctor from the University of Mississippi School of Law.[5] He was admitted to the Mississippi Bar in 2014.[13]
Career
He works as an attorney at a law firm owned by his parents.[13] He serves as the city prosecutor for Magnolia, Mississippi.[13]
Senate
In 2023, Blackmon's mother filed to run for re-election for District 21 in the Mississippi State Senate. However, as the election filing deadline approached — and no one else filed to run besides Blackmon — his mother dropped out of the race, allowing for Blackmon to run for election effectively unopposed.[1][2][14] His father performed the same maneuver for his brother Lawrence Blackmon in the Mississippi House of Representatives.[1][2][14] He won unopposed in the primary election and general election.[15]
On January 20, 2025, Blackmon introduced the Contraception Begins at Erection Act. The bill would make it illegal for a man to discharge "genetic materials" (semen) without the intent to fertilize an embryo. According to Blackmon, the intent of the legislation is to bring the fundamental role of men into the contraception conversation in response to the large volume of legislative activity targeted only at women.[4]
References
- ^ a b c d Lieb, David A.; Wagster Pettus, Emily (October 29, 2023). Written at Jackson, Mississippi. "In Mississippi, most voters will have no choice about who represents them in the Legislature". Newsday. Melville, New York. Associated Press. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
- ^ a b c Salers, Caleb (March 13, 2023). "Husband-wife duo withdraw from legislative races, leaving their children as lone candidates". SuperTalk Mississippi. Retrieved January 12, 2026.
- ^ a b "St. Andrew's star becomes Ivy Leaguer". Clarion-Ledger. January 25, 2007. p. 27.
- ^ a b Marquez, Alexandra (January 23, 2025). "Mississippi lawmaker introduces 'Contraception Begins at Erection Act'". NBC News. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
- ^ a b c "Bradford Blackmon". Mississippi State Senate. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
- ^ a b c d "Bradford Blackmon". University of Pennsylvania Athletics. Retrieved January 12, 2026.
- ^ "School leaders". Clarion-Ledger. May 4, 2000. p. 71.
- ^ "Saints". The Madison County Herald. September 2, 2003. p. 10.
- ^ House Resolution No. 39, 2007 Reg. Sess. (Miss. 2007).
- ^ "Future politician?". The Madison County Herlad. March 25, 1999. p. 8.
- ^ "Page". The Madison County Herald. April 5, 2001. p. 13.
- ^ "Blackmon down to 3". Clarion-Ledger. January 19, 2007. p. 25.
- ^ a b c "Bradford J. Blackmon". Blackmon & Blackmon PLLC, Law Firm. Retrieved January 12, 2026.
- ^ a b Summerhays, Anne (March 22, 2023). "Barbara and Ed Blackmon to be challenged by their children in 2023 Mississippi election". Magnolia Tribune. Retrieved January 12, 2026.
- ^ "Bradford Blackmon". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 12, 2026.