John Polk, a former Mississippi state senator, died Monday at age 69. His death was announced by Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann on Facebook, who described Polk as a close friend and a dedicated public servant.
Polk served in the Mississippi Senate representing District 44 from 2012 until 2026. During a recent special session, it was announced on the Senate floor that he had been placed on hospice care. Polk decided to retire before the 2025 legislative redistricting, which would have pitted him against fellow Republican Sen. Chris Johnson.
In April 2025, Polk told the Senate he planned to leave public office to return home and become a private citizen. He called his 14 years in the Senate the best years of his life. Polk was born in Columbia and graduated from Prentiss High School before attending the University of Southern Mississippi.
He was an executive at Polk Meat Products and was honored as the 2011 Alumni of the Year by the university’s College of Business. Polk also served in the Mississippi National Guard, earning the Mississippi Meritorious Civilian Service Medal from Gov. Tate Reeves and Adjutant General Bobby Ginn after his retirement from the Senate.
Hosemann praised Polk’s leadership and convictions, noting his role as chairman of the Senate Business and Financial Institutions Committee and vice chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. The Senate and the state mourn his passing, and Hosemann extended prayers to Polk’s family during this difficult time.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
