John Horhn

Mayor
City of Jackson

John A. Horhn (born February 8, 1955) is an American politician and public servant, currently serving as the mayor of Jackson, Mississippi. A lifelong Democrat, Horhn previously held office in the Mississippi State Senate, representing the 26th district from 1993 to 2025 — a tenure spanning 32 years. Prior to his legislative career, he was appointed Mississippi’s state tourism director, serving from 1989 to 1992, during which time he helped boost the state’s visibility as a cultural and historical destination.
In June 2025, Horhn was elected mayor of Jackson after securing over 67% of the vote in the general election, following a decisive 74% victory in the Democratic runoff.

John Horhn was born on February 8, 1955, in Goodman, Mississippi. His father, Charlie Horhn, was a labor organizer with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), and his mother, Willistene, worked in the public school system. At just three weeks old, his family relocated to Jackson, where he was raised in the Midtown, Georgetown, and later Virden neighborhoods.
Horhn attended Morrison Elementary School, where he was elected class president, and went on to graduate from the Jackson Public School District. In 1977, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Dramatic Arts from Centre College, where he would later serve on the Board of Trustees. He also completed executive leadership programs at Jackson State University and Duke University.

Horhn’s professional path began as a job developer with the A. Philip Randolph Institute from 1978 to 1980, followed by a term as executive director of the Mississippi Cultural Arts Coalition (1980–1981). From 1981 to 1985, he served as program manager for the Mississippi Arts Commission, then transitioned into the role of state film commissioner from 1985 to 1988. In 1988, he was named federal state programs director under Governor Ray Mabus, and by 1989 he became Mississippi’s tourism director, a post he held until 1992.
During this time, Horhn played a key role in founding the Mississippi Blues Commission in 1991, aiming to map and preserve critical blues heritage sites across the state. In 2004, he co-sponsored legislation to codify the commission into state law. Since 2011, he has served as vice chairman of the Mississippi Blues Foundation, a nonprofit arm of the commission.

In 1993, Horhn was elected to the Mississippi State Senate, representing a district that encompassed parts of Hinds and Madison counties. Over his eight consecutive terms in office, he became known for his leadership on economic development, cultural preservation, and tourism policy. He served as Chair of the Economic Development Committee, where he championed efforts to attract investment, expand local industry, and revitalize underserved communities. Throughout his Senate career, Horhn was re-elected with strong majorities, often winning more than 60% of the vote in his district.