Changes

==Political career==

==Political career==

In 1972, Cochran was elected to the [[United States House of Representatives]], to replace Democratic Congressman Charles Griffin. In the [[general election]], he defeated the Democrat [[Ellis Bodron]], a state senator from Vicksburg in Warren County. One major factor in Cochran's victory was the gigantic Republican landslide in that year's presidential election, in which Richard Nixon won 49 of 50 states and 78 percent of Mississippi's popular vote. After winning re-election to the House in 1974, he was elected by his colleagues to represent the southern states on the House Republican Policy Committee. He was re-elected to the House of Representatives again in 1976. In both of his races for re-election, Cochran received over 70 percent of the votes. In 1978, Thad Cochran was elected to the United States Senate becoming the first Republican in over 100 years to win a statewide election in Mississippi. He was re-elected in 1984 in a race with Governor William Winter with more than 60 percent of the votes. In 1990, Cochran was unopposed, and in 1996 he was re-elected to a fourth term with more than 70 percent of the votes. His margin of victory in the 2002 election was an astonishing 85 percent.

In 1972, Cochran was elected to the [[United States House of Representatives]], to replace Democratic Congressman Charles Griffin. In the [[general election]], he defeated the Democrat [[Ellis Bodron]], a state senator from Vicksburg in Warren County. One major factor in Cochran's victory was the gigantic Republican landslide in that year's presidential election, in which Richard Nixon won 49 of 50 states and 78 percent of Mississippi's popular vote. After winning re-election to the House in 1974, he was elected by his colleagues to represent the southern states on the House Republican Policy Committee. He was re-elected to the House of Representatives again in 1976. In both of his races for re-election, Cochran received over 70 percent of the votes. In 1978, Thad Cochran was elected to the United States Senate becoming the first Republican in over 100 years to win a statewide election in Mississippi. He was re-elected in 1984 in a race with Governor William Winter with more than 60 percent of the votes. In 1990, Cochran was unopposed, and in 1996, he was re-elected to a fourth term with more than 70 percent of the votes. His margin of victory in the 2002 election was an astonishing 85 percent.

===Committee membership===

===Committee membership===