Benicia’s representative seeks ninth term in U.S. House

Editor’s note: Third of three parts.

Looking at Congress and this year’s campaign, U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson said, “This is a transitional period.”

He said, “People are grumpy, and rightfully so.”

Thompson said those who could be described as “regular Republicans” are trying to deflect the influence of those who identify with the tea party movement, and have been successful in some recent primaries.

But how the intraparty struggles will play out still remains to be seen, said the Napa Democrat who represents Benicia in the House.

House Speaker John Boehner is seeking reelection in Ohio, and has defeated two others in the Republican primary. He likely will retain his leadership post, Thompson said.

On the other side of the aisle, “I don’t think the House Democrats will get ‘killed,’ but they won’t win the majority.”

He’s been watching some give and take in several Senate races this year, as well, eying not only the Republican factions but how members of his own party are faring in the runup to November.

He’s venturing no prediction about the Senate, which currently has a Democratic edge.

“I go back and forth — the Senate is fine or not fine,” he said.

He cited North Carolina’s U.S. Senate race, in which a conservative Republican and former speaker of the state’s House, Thom Tillis, will face first-term incumbent Democrat Kay Hagan. Tillis received mainstream Republican support, Thompson noted.

“I go back and forth,” he said of the North Carolina race, and others. “Arkansas is OK; Alaska, I don’t know.”

In Arkansas, incumbent Democrat Mark Pryor faces Rep. Tom Cotton; in Alaska, the Democratic incumbent Mark Begich has been in office a single term, and he’s facing three Republican candidates: former magistrate and judge Joe Miller, former Commissioner of Natural Resources Daniel S. Sullivan and Lt. Gov. Mead Treadwell.

And in the South, “you can’t do much” about those Senate seats, Thompson said, though Michelle Nunn, daughter of former Sen. Sam Nunn, is running a strong race. He noted that strongly conservative candidates are for the most part entrenched in that part of the country, which has a history of re-electing incumbents so they can get better appointments on important committees and gain influence at the federal level.

While many perceive Congress as filled by adversaries who refuse to cooperate, Thompson said there are some issues that make members inclined “to join hands and jump.” One example is his own efforts to reduce gun violence.

Thompson was chosen last year by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi to lead an all-Democrat task force on gun violence.

Some Republican House leaders have told him it would endanger their positions among constituents if they co-authored some of his legislation to enact various recommendations in the task force’s report — but they promised to support the legislation once it comes up for a vote, he said.

Thompson said of his own campaign for a ninth term, “I’m not doing anything different. I’m out in the district.”

In California, primaries are not divided by party, and this year Thompson faces two people who have expressed no party preference: James Hinton and Douglas S. Van Raam.

Hinton, a Vallejo native who later moved to Napa, has said on his website that he favors term limits, marijuana legalization, taxing Wall Street and replacing the Affordable Care Act with “a one-size-fits-all single-payer health care system.”

Van Raam is a Martinez business owner who also is involved in stage rigging. He has listed his political priorities as troop safety and feeding the hungry.

Thompson said he didn’t know either opponent. He defined his own campaign as “I’m just working.”

In addition to attending fundraises and speaking at schools, Thompson also is taking care of Congressional business, from attending committee meetings to introducing and shepherding legislation and amendments.

He’s been given endorsements by many political leaders in his district, including many in Benicia, as well as law enforcement, labor, education, agriculture and business organizations.

“My support speaks for itself,” Thompson said.