Trent Lott is the junior Senator from Mississippi.
Legislative Career
After graduating from Ole Miss, Trent Lott was the staffer for Rules Committee chairman William Colmer, a conservative Democrat. When Colmer retired in 1972, Lott ran as a Republican, receiving Colmer's endorsement.[1]. In the House, Lott achieved prominence, serving as Minority Whip from 1981-1989. In 1988 he was elected to the United States Senate to succeed John Stennis. In the Senate, he has served as Majority Leader and Minority Leader, and is currently serving as the Minority Whip.
Lott resigned his position as Majority Leader after commenting that things would have been better had Strom Thurmond won his presidential bid. This angered many people, as Thurmond had run on a pro-segregation platform.
In 2007, Lott has come under increasing fire from many conservatives for his support of amnesty for illegal immigrants. His seat comes up for election in 2012, and there is speculation that Lott will not seek a fifth Senate term.