Mike Thompson

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. He was educated at California State University, Chico, served in Vietnam with the United States Army's 173rd Airborne Brigade, 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. Thompson's margin of victory was less than 1%.

After the 1992 general election, state senator Barry Keene of the neighboring 2nd District resigned. Thompson, whose hometown of St. Helena had shifted from the 4th District into the 2nd after reapportionment, ran in the 1993 special election for Keene's seat. He narrowly beat Republican businesswoman Margie Handley and was elected to a full term in 1994.

National Democrats approached Thompson about running for Congress in 1996 against freshman Republican Frank Riggs. Thompson's state Senate district was virtually coextensive with the congressional district. Thompson declined, believing his Senate seniority would be more beneficial to his district than would his being a freshman U.S. congressman. But in 1998, Thompson was due to be termed out of the state Senate, and opted to run for Congress. Riggs did not seek reelection to his House seat and made an unsuccessful bid for the United States Senate. Thompson was elected by almost a 30% margin and has been reelected ever since without substantive opposition, Thompson voted with President Joe Biden's stated position 100% of the time in the 117th Congress, according to a FiveThirtyEight analysis.

Political positions Abortion Thompson is a Roman Catholic, In February 2006, Thompson was one of 55 Democratic U.S. representatives identifying as Catholic who signed a "Statement of Principles" that affirmed a commitment to their faith but acknowledged opposition to Catholic doctrine on some issues. They wrote that on those issues, such as abortion rights, they would follow their conscience instead of the church's teachings. 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."

Thompson opposed the overturning of Roe v. Wade, calling it "an assault on women".

Cannabis In 2015, Thompson proposed tougher penalties for marijuana growers who operate on trespassed land. The U.S. Sentencing Commission adopted the tougher sentencing guidelines, which went into effect in November 2015, after a six-month congressional review. The guidelines were intended to increase public safety.

Environmental issues Thompson voted for President George W. Bush's Healthy Forests Initiative, which some environmentalists saw as a favor to the timber industry. He has disappointed some environmentalists with votes against limits to new commercial logging roads in Alaska's Tongass National Forest and against limits to hunting bears over bait. He was also one of only 30 Democrats to vote against an amendment to maintain roadless areas protected under the Roadless Rule. Thompson received a B rating from the American Wilderness Coalition in 2003 and an A+ in 2004.

The Sierra Club endorsed Thompson for reelection in 2010.

Thompson has voted several times to weaken the Clean Water Act.

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

Foreign policy In late 2002, Thompson joined Representatives Jim McDermott and David Bonior on a fact-finding trip to Iraq. During the trip, they spoke to officials in Baghdad and residents of Basra. They expressed skepticism about the George W. Bush administration's claims that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was stockpiling weapons of mass destruction.

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 representatives obtained a license from the State Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control for the group to travel to Iraq.

Health care Thompson has supported a public option for health insurance. In 2009, he wrote, "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." In 2010, Thompson voted for the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).

Committee assignments

For the 119th Congress: Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health Subcommittee on Tax (Ranking Member)

Caucus memberships Blue Dog Coalition Congressional Wine Caucus (Co-chair) Congressional Arts Caucus Congressional NextGen 9-1-1 Caucus Congressional Wildlife Refuge Caucus Climate Solutions Caucus U.S.-Japan Caucus

Electoral history + Year Office Party Primary General Result Swing . Total % . Total % . 1990 State Senate 4th Democratic 52,161 56.16% 1st 125,573 47.67% 1st Gain 1993 2nd 42,385 47.16% 1st 48,098 47.57% 1st Hold 1994 80,070 100.0% 1st 162,610 60.41% 1st Hold 1998 U.S. House 1st 77,544 78.02% 1st 121,710 61.85% 1st Gain 2000 112,185 100.0% 1st 155,638 65.03% 1st Hold 2002 64,401 100.0% 1st 118,669 64.07% 1st Hold 2004 92,371 100.0% 1st 189,366 66.92% 1st Hold 2006 79,138 100.0% 1st 144,409 66.23% 1st Hold 2008 69,622 87.71% 1st 197,812 68.10% 1st Hold 2010 74,695 100.0% 1st 147,307 62.79% 1st Hold 2012 5th 95,748 72.20% 1st 202,872 74.47% 1st Hold 2014 88,709 80.44% 1st 129,613 75.73% 1st Hold 2016 124,634 65.70% 1st 224,526 76.87% 1st Hold 2018 121,428 79.33% 1st 205,860 78.87% 1st Hold 2020 146,980 67.54% 1st 271,233 76.09% 1st Hold 2022 4th 115,041 66.23% 1st 176,900 67.80% 1st Hold 2024 120,736 62.52% 1st 227,730 66.46% 1st Hold 2026 84,753 40.97% 1st Source: Secretary of State of California Statewide Election Results

Personal life

Thompson is married to Janet Thompson. They met at a party in Yountville, California. They reside in St. Helena and also maintain a home in Washington, D.C.

The Thompsons are avid home cooks and cook for fundraisers to benefit local nonprofits, such as for renovations to the Point Reyes Lighthouse, and Thompson's campaigns. Local Napa Valley wineries often sponsor Thompson's campaigns with lunches, dinners, wine tastings and tours. Thompson is also a longtime volunteer for the Napa Valley wine auction fundraiser.