Mike Thompson was first elected to represent California's 1st Congressional District in 1998. The district includes all of Napa, Lake, Mendocino, Humboldt and Del Norte Counties as well as portions of Yolo and Sonoma Counties. Prior to serving in Congress, Rep. Thompson represented California's 2nd District in the California State Senate where he chaired the powerful Budget Committee.
He is a member of the House Committee on Ways and Means and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, where he serves as Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Human Intelligence, Analysis and Counterintelligence.
Thompson is the co-founder and co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Wine Caucus, which consists of over 215 U.S. Senators and House members. He is also a member and former co-chair of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus. He is also a member of the Blue Dog Coalition, which is composed of moderate Democrats committed to bipartisan problem solving.
Thompson was the first Vietnam veteran elected to the California State Senate. He served in combat with the U.S. Army as a staff sergeant/platoon leader with the 173rd Airborne Brigade where he was wounded and received a Purple Heart. He was also an instructor at the Army's Airborne School.
Thompson is recognized in Congress and throughout his district as a moderate Democrat who has built a solid reputation for bipartisan problem solving. While serving in the State Senate he authored California's landmark Welfare Reform Act with Republican Senator Ken Maddy.
Thompson is a small vineyard owner and was the maintenance supervisor for the Beringer Winery. He has taught Public Administration and State Government at San Francisco State University and California State University, Chico.
He is married to Janet Thompson, a family nurse practitioner. They have two sons, a firefighter and a deputy sheriff, and three wonderful grandchildren.
Low-res photo of Congressman Mike Thompson
High-res photo of Congressman Mike Thompson (19 MB)
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