Blackwell ranks among state’s most effective legislators

Key Points

• Top-Tier Performance: State Sen. Kevin Blackwell (R-Southaven) was ranked the fourth most effective Republican in the Mississippi State Senate for the 2020–2023 session.
• Non-Partisan Oversight: The ranking comes from the Center for Effective Lawmaking (CEL), a joint non-partisan think tank between the University of Virginia and Vanderbilt University.
• Metric-Based Ranking: The CEL utilizes 15 data-driven metrics to score lawmakers on their ability to advance substantive legislation from introduction to law.

JACKSON, Miss. — State Sen. Kevin Blackwell has been recognized as one of Mississippi’s most productive legislators, according to new performance data released by a premier non-partisan research institution.

The Center for Effective Lawmaking (CEL) ranked Blackwell (R-Southaven) fourth among all Senate Republicans for the 2020–2023 legislative session. Representing Senate District 19, which covers significant portions of Southaven and Olive Branch, Blackwell’s “Legislative Effectiveness Score” places him in the top tier of the state’s 52 senators.

“These rankings confirm what we work toward every day, getting real results for the people we represent,” Blackwell said. “I take my responsibility seriously, and I’m proud that our efforts to move meaningful legislation forward are being recognized.”

A Foundation of Non-Partisan Research

The Center for Effective Lawmaking is a joint venture founded in 2017 by the University of Virginia’s Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy and Vanderbilt University. As a non-partisan think tank, the CEL seeks to improve democratic governance by providing objective, data-driven analysis of how individual lawmakers perform, regardless of political affiliation.

The center’s methodology was developed by co-directors Craig Volden (UVA) and Alan E. Wiseman (Vanderbilt). Their research focuses on moving beyond political rhetoric to measure a legislator’s actual “proven ability to advance their agenda items through the legislative process.”

Measuring Effectiveness

To determine these scores, the CEL tracks every bill introduced in the Mississippi Legislature across 15 different metrics. These include:

• The amount of “substantive” content in a bill versus ceremonial resolutions.
• How far a bill progresses (e.g., reaching committee, passing the chamber, or being signed into law).
• Success relative to the “average” member of the same party and chamber.

According to the report, Blackwell’s high ranking is bolstered by his leadership roles, including his tenure as Chairman of the Senate Medicaid Committee. The study notes that “effectiveness” is often a durable trait, suggesting that top-performing lawmakers like Blackwell tend to maintain high levels of productivity across multiple terms.

Blackwell, who recently won a special election in November 2025 to retain his seat, continues to represent District 19 in the current 2026 legislative session.

Click here to view the complete report.