Lydia Chassaniol, born on December 29, 1950, is an American politician who has been serving in the Mississippi Senate from the 14th district since 2007. She is a member of the Republican Party.1
Chassaniol hails from Winona, Mississippi. She attended Winona High School and later pursued her higher education at the University of Mississippi. Professionally, she has experience in owning a restaurant.
She began her political career by serving on the Mississippi Parole Board from 1997 through 2000. In 2007, she ran unopposed for District 14 of the Mississippi Senate and was elected. She was re-elected in November 2011, defeating Democrat Carlos Moore. She was re-elected once again in 2015.
During her tenure, Chassaniol has sponsored several bills and has been particularly active in anti-immigration legislation. She chairs the Mississippi Senate Tourism Committee and is the vice-chair of the state’s committee on corrections.
Apart from her political career, Chassaniol is also a member of the Council of Conservative Citizens (CCC), and has spoken at the group’s national convention. In her speech to the CCC Convention, she referred to its members as “lone voices crying in the wilderness” and expressed hope for the future.
On a personal note, Chassaniol has been married three times and is a mother to two daughters, Mary Rae Chassaniol and Mimi Taylor. She is a Methodist by faith.
