Mike Ezell

Mike Ezell
Born	Walter Michael Ezell 6 4, 1959
Birthplace	Pascagoula, Mississippi, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, former law enforcement officer
Title	Member of the United States House of Representatives
Known for	U.S. Representative for Mississippi's 4th congressional district
Education	University of Southern Mississippi (BA)
Spouse(s)	Suzette Ezell
Children	1
Website	[[ezell.house.gov ezell.house.gov] Official site]

Walter Michael Ezell (Template:IPAc-en; born April 6, 1959) is an American politician and former law enforcement officer serving as the U.S. representative for Mississippi's 4th congressional district since January 2023. A member of the Republican Party, Ezell spent more than four decades in law enforcement before entering federal politics, including service as a patrolman, detective, police chief, district attorney's investigator, and sheriff. Born and raised in Pascagoula, Mississippi, he earned his degree in criminal justice from the University of Southern Mississippi while attending night school and working full-time in law enforcement. After serving as the sheriff of Jackson County from 2014 to 2022, Ezell defeated incumbent U.S. Representative Steven Palazzo in the 2022 Republican primary runoff and went on to win the general election in the heavily Republican district. In Congress, he has focused on law enforcement funding, border security, military support, and maritime transportation policy, chairing the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation during the 119th Congress.

Early Life

Walter Michael Ezell was born on April 6, 1959, in Pascagoula, Mississippi, a port city on the Gulf of Mexico in the southeastern corner of the state. Pascagoula, the county seat of Jackson County, has historically been associated with shipbuilding, the seafood industry, and a significant military presence through Naval Station Pascagoula and nearby installations. Ezell grew up in the area and developed an early interest in law enforcement and public service.

Ezell began his career in law enforcement in 1980, at the age of 21, when he joined the Pascagoula Police Department as a patrolman. Over the course of the following decades, he would rise through the ranks of multiple law enforcement agencies in the region, building a career that spanned more than 40 years before he transitioned to federal politics.

Education

Ezell attended the University of Southern Mississippi, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in criminal justice. He completed his degree while attending night school, balancing his academic work with his full-time duties as a law enforcement officer. This pursuit of higher education while working in the field reflected a commitment to professional development that would characterize much of his subsequent career.

Career

Law Enforcement Career

Ezell's law enforcement career began in 1980 when he joined the Pascagoula Police Department as a patrolman. Over the following years, he advanced through multiple positions and agencies within the Mississippi Gulf Coast region. He served in various capacities within the Pascagoula Police Department, gaining experience in patrol, investigations, and departmental leadership. He also held positions with the Ocean Springs Police Department and worked as an investigator for the district attorney's office in Jackson County.

Throughout his career in local law enforcement, Ezell accumulated experience across a broad range of policing functions, from street-level patrol work to criminal investigations and administrative leadership. This breadth of experience would later become a central element of his political identity, both in his campaign for sheriff and in his subsequent congressional campaigns.

Sheriff of Jackson County

In 2014, Ezell won a special election to become the sheriff of Jackson County, Mississippi, succeeding Sheriff Mike Byrd. He was sworn into office on December 1, 2014, and immediately set about implementing changes within the sheriff's department. His tenure was characterized by efforts to eliminate corruption within the department and to modernize law enforcement operations in the county.

As sheriff, Ezell oversaw the Jackson County Sheriff's Office, which is responsible for law enforcement across the county, operation of the county jail, service of court orders, and other duties. Jackson County, located along the Mississippi Gulf Coast, encompasses a population that has dealt with challenges including the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and the economic pressures common to Gulf Coast communities.

Ezell was re-elected as sheriff twice, serving in the position from December 2014 through December 31, 2022, when he resigned to take his seat in the U.S. Congress. He was succeeded as sheriff by John Ledbetter.

2022 Congressional Campaign

In April 2021, Ezell announced his candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives in Mississippi's 4th congressional district, challenging incumbent Republican Steven Palazzo. The district covers much of southern Mississippi, including the Gulf Coast counties and extending north to include parts of the Pine Belt region. It is a heavily Republican district, meaning the Republican primary is typically the most competitive election.

Palazzo, who had served in Congress since 2011, was facing significant ethics concerns at the time. Reports had raised questions about his use of campaign funds, and the Office of Congressional Ethics had referred the matter for further investigation. These issues became central to the 2022 primary campaign.

The June 2022 Republican primary featured a crowded field of candidates. Ezell and Palazzo emerged as the top two vote-getters, but neither secured the majority required to avoid a runoff. In the subsequent runoff election, Ezell defeated Palazzo, ending the incumbent's bid for a seventh term. The result was attributed in large part to voter dissatisfaction with the ethics cloud surrounding Palazzo's campaign finances.

Having won the Republican nomination in the solidly Republican district, Ezell was considered the strong favorite in the November general election. He went on to win the general election comfortably, securing his seat in the 118th United States Congress.

U.S. House of Representatives

118th Congress (2023–2025)

Ezell took office on January 3, 2023, as the representative for Mississippi's 4th congressional district, succeeding Steven Palazzo. As a freshman member of Congress, he was profiled by The Hill as one of the new members of the 118th Congress, with his law enforcement background highlighted as a distinguishing feature of his candidacy and policy orientation.

In Congress, Ezell has focused on several policy areas that reflect both his professional background and the interests of his Gulf Coast district. He has been an advocate for increased law enforcement funding at the federal level, drawing on his decades of experience in policing to inform his positions on public safety policy. Border security has been another priority, with Ezell supporting measures aimed at strengthening enforcement along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Given the significant military presence in Mississippi's 4th district — which includes Camp Shelby, Keesler Air Force Base, and the Ingalls Shipbuilding facility in Pascagoula — Ezell has also focused on military and defense issues. Ingalls Shipbuilding, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries, is one of the largest employers in the state and a major builder of U.S. Navy vessels, making defense spending and shipbuilding policy of direct economic importance to the district.

In 2023, the Associated Press reported on an incident involving Ezell and a war activist, reflecting the sometimes contentious nature of constituent interactions in the modern political environment.

2024 Re-election

Ezell won re-election in November 2024 by a wide margin, securing a second full term in the U.S. House. His comfortable margin of victory reflected the strong Republican lean of the district and his established incumbency.

119th Congress (2025–2027)

For the 119th Congress, Ezell serves on two committees: the House Committee on Natural Resources and the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. He chairs the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation within the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, a position of particular relevance to his Gulf Coast district.

In December 2025, Ezell delivered opening remarks at a committee hearing on developing technologies in maritime transportation, reflecting his role as chairman and his focus on issues affecting the maritime industry and coast guard operations.

Ezell has also been active in legislative efforts related to disaster preparedness and insurance. In December 2025, he co-sponsored the National Flood Insurance Program Automatic Extension Act of 2025, alongside Representatives Troy Carter (D-LA), Julia Letlow (R-LA), Cleo Fields (D-LA), Clay Higgins (R-LA), and others. The legislation addressed the renewal of the National Flood Insurance Program, which is of significant importance to Gulf Coast communities that face recurring flood and hurricane risks.

In February 2026, Ezell publicly advocated for the SAVE America Act, which he described as important to ensuring the integrity of federal elections. He also commented on the potential shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security in February 2026 after the Senate failed to pass funding legislation, calling the looming shutdown "totally unnecessary."

2026 Re-election Campaign

In February 2026, Ezell announced his candidacy for re-election to a third term in the U.S. House of Representatives, appearing on WLOX to discuss congressional issues ahead of the Republican primary.

In October 2025, President Donald Trump announced his endorsement of Ezell for re-election in 2026, ahead of the midterm election cycle. The endorsement was seen as a significant boost in the Republican primary, where Trump's support carries substantial weight among primary voters.

Personal Life

Ezell is married to Suzette Ezell, and the couple has one child. He is a lifelong resident of the Mississippi Gulf Coast region, having been born and raised in Pascagoula.

According to a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center on the religious composition of the 118th Congress, Ezell's religious affiliation was documented among the members of Congress who took office in January 2023.

Ezell's deep roots in the Gulf Coast community and his long tenure in local law enforcement have shaped his approach to both constituent service and legislative priorities. His career in public service spans more than four decades, beginning with his entry into law enforcement in 1980 and continuing through his current service in Congress.

Recognition

Ezell's defeat of an incumbent congressman in the 2022 Republican primary runoff drew attention as one of the notable primary upsets of the 2022 election cycle. His campaign, built on his law enforcement credentials and contrast with the ethics issues surrounding his predecessor, was covered by regional and national media outlets.

His appointment as chairman of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation in the 119th Congress represented a significant committee assignment for a second-term member and was viewed as relevant to the maritime and military industries that are central to his district's economy.

The endorsement by President Donald Trump for the 2026 election cycle further elevated Ezell's national profile within the Republican Party.

His career in law enforcement, spanning more than 40 years across multiple agencies and roles, has been cited as one of the longest law enforcement careers among sitting members of Congress, and it remains a central element of his political identity and policy focus.