Mike Thompson leans on his lifelong ties to the Yuba-Sutter region as general election looms

• By Ray Bowden, The Appeal-Democrat
  Sep 9, 2026 Updated Sep 9, 2026

With less than two months for voters to decide if Democrat Mike Thompson continues to represent the interests of the Mid-Valley, the congressional representative told the Appeal-Democrat that his lifelong connection to the region makes him a better candidate than his political opponent, Eric Jones. 

Thompson handily won the District 4 primary race earlier this year, a victory he ascribes to voter familiarity. 

“Voters know who I am,” the representative said. “I’m a moderate, a Blue Dog Democrat, a combat veteran wounded in action and a farmer. And I’ve also been endorsed by the California Farm Bureau. I was born in this district, raised in this district and live in this district.” 

The Blue Dog Coalition is a caucus for moderate and conservative Democratic representatives founded in 1995. 

Thompson, 75, defeated Jones, 35, in the June primary with 84,753 (41.0%) votes to Jones’ 45,992 (22.2%), according to ballot records. First elected to Congress in 1999, Thompson credits his political longevity to a willingness to work across the aisle on bipartisan legislation. 

“And not just in this district, but with everyone,” he noted, explaining how he and the late District 1 Representative Doug LaMalfa introduced a bill earlier this year protecting property owners from taxation on the compensation they received after a wildfire.

“Doug and I got a bill through–a $13 billion settlement that covered payments from the Fire Victims Trust for thousands whose lives were affected by the North Bay, Camp and Butte fires,” Thompson recalled, adding, “We have to work together: We can’t let our philosophical differences get in the way.” 

State disaster records show two people were killed in the 2015 Butte Fire, which blackened 71,780 acres and resulted in a $300 million loss; 44 people died in the 2017 North Bay Wildfires, which destroyed 250,000 acres and a subsequent $10 billion in insured losses; and 84 people lost their lives in the 2018 Camp Fire, which burned 153,336 acres and caused $16.5 billion in damage, according to state disaster reports. 

“Fire survivors have been through enough in the wake of losing their homes and livelihoods to wildfires,” Thompson explained after the Senate unanimously passed the bill, originally introduced as the Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2025 and later renamed in honor of the late Congressman Doug LaMalfa in August. “It’s wrong to tax them on the settlement money meant to help them rebuild their lives. Our bill ensures that survivors of disasters in the near future don’t have to come to Congress asking for relief after every fire, flood, hurricane or other disaster.” 

Thompson reminded the Appeal that he’s one of 21 representatives on the The Committee on Ways and Means, the chief tax-writing committee in the House, with jurisdiction over all taxation, tariffs and other revenue-raising measures.

“Ways and Means is such an influential committee,” he expounded. “You can do a lot of good; it makes people’s lives better.” 

In April, Thompson and District 1 Congressional Assemblyman James Gallagher announced the opening of applications for the USDA Tree Removal Program for California cling peaches, working with regional ag leaders to secure up to $9 million in federal funding for the project. 

“Peach growers are the backbone of the agricultural economy in Sutter and Yuba counties,” Thompson observed. “The closure of the Del Monte processing facility, combined with already challenging economic conditions, dealt a devastating blow to these communities.” 

Thompson may have defeated Jones in the primaries, but isn’t taking the general elections for granted. 

“We’re in a newly configured district,” he acknowledged, noting that since his first election to Capitol hill in 1998, the district has been redrawn multiple times. 

Following this gerrymandering approved by the U.S. Supreme Court earlier this year, District 4 expanded to include right-leaning Colusa, Sutter, and Yuba counties, along with portions of Placer and Sacramento counties, while carving-out sections of Democratic-leaning Lake and Sonoma Counties. 

“It’s a challenging district,” Thompson admitted.

Thompson has garnered a lengthy list of regional establishment supporters: Marysville Mayor Chris Branscum; Yuba City Mayor Mark Boomgaarden; City of Colusa Mayor Denise Conrado; City of Lincoln Mayor Richard Pearl; and Yuba County Supervisors Gary Bradford and John Messick, among them. 

“From the Loma Rica Post office, Army Corps of Engineers permitting, BLM property to the Museum of Forgotten Warriors, whatever I have asked Mike for help on he has jumped in with both feet,” Messick announced after a September 4 meet and greet Thompson hosted for Loma Rica voters. “I trust Mike to keep up the hard work to get these projects over the finish line for Yuba County.” 

Thompson shrugged off questions regarding any influence his age may play on his ability to remain viable in Congress. 

“Look, I’m as old as I am,” Thompson commented. “Every generation has something to offer but you can’t have an entire Congress of brand new people. It’s important to have people who can provide advice and share knowledge with the younger members coming in.” Thompson added. “Age should be considered but on a case by case basis.” 

Before leaving for the Loma Rica event, Thompson emphasized his belief in government service. 

“I believe in the institution of government,” he said. “It’s part of what makes up a community. Voters need to understand that we need to find that good person inside of us and help put up that barn door.”