Mike Thompson (California politician)

Charles Michael Thompson[2] (born January 24, 1951)[3] is an American politician serving as the U.S. Representative for California's 5th congressional district (known as California's 1st congressional district until 2013) since 1999. He is the Chairman of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force.[4] He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district, located in the outer northern portion of the San Francisco Bay Area, includes all of Napa County and portions of Contra Costa, Lake, Solano, and Sonoma counties.

Mike Thompson
Member of the
U.S. House of Representatives
from California
Assumed office
January 3, 1999
Preceded byFrank Riggs
Constituency1st district (1999–2013)
5th district (2013–present)
Member of the California Senate
from the 2nd district
In office
1990–1998
Preceded byBarry Keene
Succeeded byWesley Chesbro
Personal details
Born
Charles Michael Thompson

(1951-01-24) January 24, 1951
St. Helena, California, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Jan Thompson
Children2
EducationNapa Valley College
California State University, Chico (BA, MPA)
WebsiteHouse website
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
Years of service1967–1973[1]
Rank Staff Sergeant
Unit173rd Airborne Brigade
Battles/warsVietnam War
AwardsPurple Heart
Combat Infantryman Badge

Early life, education and career

Thompson was born in St. Helena, California, the son of Beverly Ann (née Forni) and Charles Edward Thompson. His father was of English ancestry and his mother was of Italian and Swiss descent.[5] He was educated at California State University, Chico, served in Vietnam with the United States Army's 173rd Airborne Brigade,[6] was a vineyard owner and maintenance supervisor, taught Public Administration and State Government at San Francisco State University and California State University, Chico, and was a member of the California State Senate before entering the House.[3]

Early political career

Thompson served as an aide to Democrat Jackie Speier (then a state Assemblywoman) before winning election to the California State Senate in 1990. He very narrowly unseated 4th district Republican incumbent Jim Nielsen after a controversy over Nielsen's primary residence;[7][8] Thompson's margin of victory was less than 1 percent.[9]

Following the 1992 general election, Democratic state Senator Barry Keene of the neighboring 2nd District resigned. Thompson, whose hometown of St. Helena had shifted from the 4th district and into the 2nd district after reapportionment, decided to run in the 1993 special election for Keene's seat. He narrowly beat Republican businesswoman Margie Handley but won easy reelection in 1994.[10]

Thompson was approached by national Democrats about running for Congress in 1996 against freshman Republican Frank Riggs. Thompson's state senate district was virtually coextensive with the congressional district. However, Thompson declined, believing his senate seniority would be more beneficial to his district than would his being a freshman congressman. In 1998, however, Thompson was due to be termed out of the state senate, and opted to run against Riggs after all. Riggs opted to retire and make an unsuccessful bid for United States Senate.[11] Thompson won handily. He has been reelected ten times with no substantive opposition, and has turned what was a swing district for most of the 1980s and 1990s into a fairly safe Democratic seat.

For his first seven terms, Thompson represented a district stretching from the far northern portion of the San Francisco Bay Area all the way to the North Coast. However, his district was renumbered as the 5th district after the 2010 census and was made somewhat more compact, losing most of its northern portion to the 2nd district.

U.S. House of Representatives

Tenure

Thompson is a Blue Dog Democrat[12] and was previously a member of the New Democrat Coalition. He has been labeled as a "moderate Democratic leader".[13] Thompson has taken nearly $2 million each election cycle from corporations including pharmaceuticals, insurance, weapons, banks, tobacco, oil, sugar and real estate.[14] Thompson has voted with the Democratic party 91% of the time.[15]

Abortion

Thompson is a Roman Catholic,[3] but is pro-choice. In May 2004, he, along with 47 other Catholic Democratic Congressmembers, sent a letter to Cardinal Theodore McCarrick of Washington, D.C. to dissuade him from refusing to administer Holy Communion to Catholic Congressmembers who practice pro-choice legislative voting.[16] In February 2006, he was one of 55 Democratic U.S. Representatives identifying as Catholic who signed a "Statement of Principles" which affirmed a commitment to their faith but acknowledged opposition to Catholic doctrine on some issues. They stated that on those issues, such as abortion rights, they would follow their conscience instead of the church's teachings.[17] In response, the U.S. Catholic Bishops issued a "Statement on Responsibilities of Catholics in Public Life" that said, in part, "Catholic teaching calls all Catholics to work actively to restrain, restrict and bring to an end the destruction of unborn human life."[18]

Health care

Thompson has been a supporter of a public option for healthcare. In 2009, Thompson wrote that "[b]y streamlining health care, reducing fraud and abuse, ending unnecessary testing, discouraging over-utilization, investing in smart reforms, and emphasizing preventive health care, we can significantly bring down the cost of health care."[19] Additionally, in 2010, Thompson voted for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.[20]

Surveillance Thompson voted for the Patriot Act[21], the USA Freedom Act of 2015[22], and the FISA Re-authorization Act of 2017.[23]

Foreign policy

In late 2002, Thompson joined Democratic Reps. Jim McDermott of Washington and David Bonior of Michigan on a fact-finding trip to Iraq. During the trip, the lawmakers spoke to officials in Baghdad and residents in Basra. They expressed skepticism about the Bush administration's claims that Saddam was stockpiling weapons of mass destruction.[24]

On March 26, 2008, Muthanna Al-Hanooti, an official of a Michigan charity, was accused of underwriting three members of Congress to travel to Iraq, on behalf of Iraqi intelligence officials. McDermott's office was already organizing the trip when the charity offered to pay the trip expenses. McDermott's spokesman claimed the charity was fully vetted by the U.S. government. He also stated that the congressmen obtained a license from the State Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control for the group to travel to Iraq.[25]

Thompson has supported military intervention in certain foreign countries.[26]

2008 presidential election

During the 2008 presidential campaign, Thompson endorsed former U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton (D-New York) for President; his district, however, was narrowly won by Barack Obama.

Environmental issues

The League of Conservation Voters publishes the National Environmental Scorecard for each session of Congress which rates how members voted on key energy and environmental issues. Thompson was rated 92% (with 100% being the highest possible rating) for the 2nd session of the 110th Congress. His LCV Scorecard ratings have been at 90% or above for every session of Congress since 2001.

Thompson voted for President Bush's Healthy Forests Initiative,[27] which some environmentalists saw as a preference to the timber industry.[28] He has disappointed some environmentalists with votes against limits to new commercial logging roads in Alaska's Tongass National Forest[29] and against limits to hunting bears over bait.[30][31] He was also one of only 30 Democrats to vote against an amendment to maintain roadless areas protected under the Roadless Rule.[32] Thompson received an A+ rating for his 100% voting record from the American Wilderness Coalition in 2004.[33]

The Sierra Club endorsed Thompson for re-election in 2010.[34]

Thompson has voted several times to weaken the Clean Water Act[35][36].

In March 2012, Thompson, along with Assemblyman Jared Huffman, voiced his opposition to a piece of water legislation that the House would be voting on, which he argued would "kill local jobs, ignore 20 years of established science and overturn a century of California water law."[37]


Animal rights

Thompson was endorsed for re-election in 2008 by the Humane USA PAC, a political action committee founded by leaders of animal rights groups such as The Humane Society of the United States, The Fund for Animals, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Doris Day Animal League, the Animal Welfare Institute, Farm Sanctuary and The Ark Trust.[38] Thompson has an 88% lifetime rating from the Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund, which endorsed him for re-election in 2008.[39] This organization is the 501(c)(4) sister organization of Defenders of Wildlife.

Thompson has voted against banning ivory imports[40] and has voted several times in favor of polar bear trophy importation[41][42].

While a California state senator, Thompson helped defeat legislation to halt the use of dogs in hunting of black bears[43] and co-authored and voted for a bill (SB 28) to resume trophy hunting of cougars.[44] SB 28 would have undone provisions of California Proposition 117 (the California Wildlife Protection Act of 1990) which had been approved by the voters in the statewide election held on June 5, 1990, that provided some protection for cougars.[44] Thompson was the House sponsor of the Northern California Coastal Wild Heritage Wilderness Act, which was signed into law by President George W. Bush. Thompson was recognized as Federal Legislator of the Year by the hunting lobbyist group Safari Club International; he received the Hunting Heritage Award from the same group.[45] He is an active member and former co-chair of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus,[46][47] and is a lifelong hunter and fisherman.

Committee assignments
Mike Thompson in 2010

Caucuses

Electoral history
California State Senate 4th District Democratic Primary Election, 1990
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mike Thompson 52,161 56.16
Democratic Charlie Cochran 40,726 43.84
California State Senate 4th District Election, 1990
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mike Thompson 125,573 47.67
Republican Jim Nielsen* 123,066 46.72
Libertarian Juanita Hendricks 9,398 3.57
Peace and Freedom Irv Sotley 5,381 2.04
California State Senate 2nd District Election, 1994
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mike Thompson* 162,610 60.41
Republican Frank McMichael 95,275 35.40
Peace and Freedom Pamela Elizondo 11,289 4.19
California's 1st Congressional District House Democratic Primary Election, 1998
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mike Thompson 77,544 78.02
Democratic Jim Hennefer 21,841 21.98
California's 1st Congressional District House Election, 1998[53]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mike Thompson 121,713 61.84
Republican Mark C. Luce 64,692 32.87
Libertarian Emil P. Rossi 5,404 2.75
Peace and Freedom Ernest K. Jones, Jr. 4,996 2.54
California's 1st Congressional District House Election, 2000[54]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mike Thompson* 155,638 65.03
Republican Russel J. "Jim" Chase 66,987 27.99
Natural Law Cheryl Kreier 7,173 3.00
Libertarian Emil P. Rossi 6,376 2.66
Reform Pamela Elizondo 3,161 1.32
California's 1st Congressional District House Election, 2002[55]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mike Thompson* 118,669 64.07
Republican Lawrence R. Wiesner 60,013 32.40
Libertarian Kevin Bastian 6,534 3.53
California's 1st Congressional District House Election, 2004[56]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mike Thompson* 189,366 66.92
Republican Lawrence R. Wiesner 79,970 28.26
Green Pamela Elizondo 13,635 4.82
California's 1st Congressional District House Election, 2006[57]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mike Thompson* 144,409 66.23
Republican John W. Jones 63,194 28.98
Green Pamela Elizondo 6,899 3.16
Peace and Freedom Timothy J.Stock 3,503 1.61
Independent Carol Wolman 39 (write-in) 0.02
California's 1st Congressional District House Democratic Primary Election, 2008
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mike Thompson* 69,622 87.8
Democratic Mitchell Clogg 9,752 12.2
California's 1st Congressional District House Election, 2008[58]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mike Thompson* 197,812 68.10
Republican Zane Starkewolf 67,853 23.36
Green Carol Wolman 24,793 8.54
Green Pamela Elizondo 14 (write-in) 0.01
California's 1st Congressional District House Election, 2010[58]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mike Thompson* 147,307 62.79
Republican Loren Hanks 72,803 31.03
Green Carol Wolman 8,486 3.62
Libertarian Mike Rodrigues 5,996 2.56
California's 5th Congressional District House Primary Election, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mike Thompson* 95,748 72.2
Republican Randy Loftin 22,137 16.7
Republican Stewart John Cilley 14,734 11.1
California's 5th Congressional District House Election, 2012[58]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mike Thompson* 202,872 74.5
Republican Randy Loftin 69,545 25.5
California's 5th Congressional District House Primary Election, 2014
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mike Thompson* 88,709 80.4
Independent James Hinton 12,292 11.1
Independent Douglas Van Raam 9,279 8.4
California's 5th Congressional District House Election, 2014
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mike Thompson* 129,613 75.7
Independent James Hinton 41,535 24.3
California's 5th Congressional District House Primary Election, 2016
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mike Thompson* 124,634 65.7
Republican Carlos Santamaria 36,430 19.2
Democratic Nils Palsson 23,639 12.5
Democratic Alex Poling 4,998 2.6

Personal life

He is married to Janet Thompson and has two sons, Chris and Jon, and two grandchildren, named Patrick and Cooper.[59]

gollark: * 128 possible values, or 7 bits
gollark: This is obviously the best language possible.
gollark: Yes, I saw a document on some RockChip SoC which was in Chinese apart from saying "GbE" and "HDMI" and such in it.
gollark: Even Chinese will be forced to contain English technical terms interspersed a bit.
gollark: English WILL consume all, and none will be spared from its badness.

References
  1. Staff (2011). "Once a Soldier... Always a Soldier" (PDF). Legislative Agenda. Association of the United States Army. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 21, 2013. Retrieved January 27, 2013.
  2. According to the State of California. California Birth Index, 1905-1995. Center for Health Statistics, California Department of Health Services, Sacramento, California. Searchable at http://www.familytreelegends.com/records/39461
  3. "Representative Michael C. 'Mike' Thompson (CA)". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved 2008-12-15.
  4. "Sweeping new gun laws proposed by influential liberal think tank". The Washington Post. January 12, 2013. Retrieved November 29, 2015.
  5. http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/%7Ebattle/reps/thompsonm.htm
  6. "Thompson Honored for His Dedication to Veterans". Office of Congressman Mike Thompson. 2008-04-03. Archived from the original on 2008-07-30. Retrieved 2008-12-15.
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  8. "Semi-super Tuesday". Chico News & Review. 2008-05-29. Retrieved 2008-12-12.
  9. "Statement of Vote - General Election November 6, 1990" (PDF). California Secretary of State. 1990-10-09. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 30, 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-12. Under "Fourth Senatorial District" on 40th page of this PDF file.
  10. "Statement of Vote - November 8, 1994 General Election" (PDF). California Secretary of State. 1994-12-16. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 30, 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-12. Under "2nd State Senate District" on 69th page of this PDF file.
  11. Ken Rudin (1998-11-02). "Political Junkie". Washingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2008-12-12.
  12. "Members". Blue Dog Coalition. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
  13. "Rep. Michael "Mike" Thompson". GovTrack. Retrieved 23 July 2012.
  14. "FEC Disclosure Report Search Results". docquery.fec.gov. Retrieved 2019-08-25.
  15. "Mike Thompson (D)". The U.S. Congress Votes Database. Washington Post. Retrieved 23 July 2012.
  16. "Legislators protest communion recommendation". CNN.com. 2004-05-21. Retrieved 2008-12-16.
  17. "House Democrats Release Historic Catholic Statement of Principles". Office of Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro. 2006-02-28. Archived from the original on 2012-02-18. Retrieved 2008-12-15.
  18. Cardinal William H. Keeler, Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick, and Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio (2006-03-10). "Statement on Responsibilities of Catholics in Public Life". United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved 2008-12-16.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  19. Thompson, Mike (10 June 2009). "Health Care Can't Wait". Huffington Post. Retrieved 23 July 2012.
  20. "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act". govTrack. Civic Impulse, LLC. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  21. "H.R.3162 - 107th Congress (2001-2002): Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT ACT) Act of 2001". www.congress.gov. 2001-10-26. Retrieved 2019-08-25.
  22. "H.R.2048 - 114th Congress (2015-2016): USA FREEDOM Act of 2015". www.congress.gov. 2015-06-02. Retrieved 2019-08-25.
  23. Hatch, Orrin G. (2018-01-19). "Text - S.139 - 115th Congress (2017-2018): FISA Amendments Reauthorization Act of 2017". www.congress.gov. Retrieved 2019-08-25.
  24. Matt Apuzzo (AP) (2008-03-26). "Prosecutors: Saddam Hussein's intelligence agency bankrolled McDermott's prewar trip to Iraq". HeraldNet. Retrieved 2008-12-15.
  25. David Postman (2008-03-28). "The story behind McDermott's controversial Iraq trip". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2008-12-15.
  26. Cook, Paul (2017-05-05). "Text - H.R.244 - 115th Congress (2017-2018): Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017". www.congress.gov. Retrieved 2019-08-25.
  27. "Final Vote Results for Roll Call 656". U.S. House of Representatives. 2003-11-21. Retrieved 2008-12-11. The vote on H.R. 1904.
  28. "Transition talk: Interior motives". The Westerner. 2008-12-09. Retrieved 2008-12-15.
  29. "Tongass Protections". League of Conservation Voters. 2004-06-16. Retrieved 2008-12-11.
  30. "Bear Baiting Amendment Defeated On House Floor". Steelheader.net. 2003-07-18. Retrieved 2008-12-19. The vote (Roll Call 382) was on an amendment to a Department of the Interior funding bill (H.AMDT.263 to H.R.2691) to prohibit any funding to administer any action related to the baiting of bears except to prevent or prohibit such activity. To display the THOMAS (Library of Congress) links, go to http://thomas.loc.gov/bss/108search.html and search for the word "baiting". In the next screen, search for "2691". (2003-07-17). Retrieved on 2008-12-22. "Final Vote Results for Roll Call 382". U.S. House of Representatives. 2003-07-17. Retrieved 2008-12-19.
  31. "Anti-Bear Hunting Bill Withdrawn from Resources Committee". Weekly News: Fishery News of the Great Lakes Basin. Great Lakes Sport Fishing Council. July 21, 2003. Retrieved 2008-12-17. Congress specifically and repeatedly has affirmed the states' rights to manage non-migratory wildlife, including on most federal lands except for National Parks. H.R. 1472 would have preempted these rights and removed science and professional wildlife management as a cornerstone of America's successful wildlife management program.
  32. "Final Vote Results for Roll Call 149". U.S. House of Representatives. 2006-05-17. Retrieved 2008-12-12. The vote on H.R. 4200.
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  37. "GUEST OPINION: House bill would turn back environmental law clock 20 years". The Press Democrat. Archived from the original on 2012-06-13.
  38. "Humane USA 2008 Endorsements". Washington, DC: Humane USA PAC. Retrieved 17 January 2010.
  39. "DEefenders of Wildlife Action Fund announces 2008 endorsements". Washington, DC: Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund. Archived from the original on 7 February 2009. Retrieved 18 January 2010.
  40. Calvert, Ken (2015-07-08). "Actions - H.R.2822 - 114th Congress (2015-2016): Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016". www.congress.gov. Retrieved 2019-08-25.
  41. Miller, Jeff (2012-04-18). "H.R.4089 - 112th Congress (2011-2012): Sportsmen's Heritage Act of 2012". www.congress.gov. Retrieved 2019-08-25.
  42. Latta, Robert E. (2014-02-10). "H.R.3590 - 113th Congress (2013-2014): Sportsmen's Heritage And Recreational Enhancement Act". www.congress.gov. Retrieved 2019-08-25.
  43. "Official California Legislative Information - Bill Information". California State Senate. 1993-05-25. Archived from the original on 2009-01-04. Retrieved 2008-12-12. Regarding California SB 67.
  44. "Official California Legislative Information - Bill Information". California State Senate. 1995-09-15. Archived from the original on 2009-01-04. Retrieved 2008-12-12. Regarding California SB 28.
  45. "SCI Recognize Federal Legislator and Heritage Award Winners at 2008 Convention". HuntingLife.com. 2008-01-28. Retrieved 2008-12-11.
  46. "Power Trips - Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation". American Public Media. 2008. Archived from the original on 2011-06-14. Retrieved 2008-12-11.
  47. "Rep. Mike Thompson biography". Congressional office of Rep. Mike Thompson. Archived from the original on 2008-12-02. Retrieved 2008-12-11.
  48. "Members". Blue Dog Coalition. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  49. "Membership". Congressional Arts Caucus. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  50. "Members". Congressional NextGen 9-1-1 Caucus. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
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  59. "W. Jeff Hitchcock". www.mariacarrillohighschool.com.
California Senate
Preceded by
Barry Keene		 Member of the California Senate
from the 2nd district
1990–1998		 Succeeded by
Wesley Chesbro
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Frank Riggs		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from California's 1st congressional district
1999–2013		 Succeeded by
Doug LaMalfa
Preceded by
Doris Matsui		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from California's 5th congressional district
2013–present		 Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by
Mike Simpson		 United States Representatives by seniority
60th		 Succeeded by
Greg Walden
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