Politics
Rep. Mike Thompson Ousted by Political Newcomer Eric Jones, Shaking Up House Ways and Means Committee
Rep. Mike Thompson, a 14-term California Democrat and senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee, lost his reelection bid to 35-year-old former venture capitalist Eric Jones. The upset is part of a wave of anti-establishment challenges reshaping the committee's Democratic leadership.
Rep. Mike Thompson, a 14-term California Democrat and senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee, officially lost his reelection bid Friday to political newcomer Eric Jones, a fellow Democrat. The race was so close that it took more than a week to tally all the votes.
Thompson, who was set to become the No. 2 Democrat on the tax-writing panel behind Rep. Richard Neal of Massachusetts, had intended to take over the health subcommittee next year in the new Democratic majority. He is currently the ranking Democrat on the tax subcommittee.
Jones, 35, a former venture capitalist, took second place in California's June 2 primary behind Thompson. Under California's primary system, the top two vote-getters face each other in the general election regardless of party affiliation.
Thompson's defeat makes him the latest old-guard Democrat to see his career upended by an anti-establishment challenger. He will be the fourth senior Democrat to leave Ways and Means, setting off a scramble for top slots on the panel's six subcommittees. Reps. Lloyd Doggett of Texas and Danny Davis of Illinois are retiring, and Rep. John Larson of Connecticut lost his primary. Rep. Richard Neal fended off his own primary challenger earlier this year.
The departures will clear the way for women to take over the party's top slot on most of the panel's subcommittees, a significant change on a committee long dominated by men. Currently, no women lead any of the Ways and Means subcommittees.
After Neal, the next-most senior Democrats on the panel are Reps. Linda Sanchez of California, Terri Sewell of Alabama, Suzan DelBene of Washington, Judy Chu of California and Gwen Moore of Wisconsin.
The shakeup comes as House Democrats prepare to take the majority in the next Congress and as the party grapples with generational change. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the minority leader, said Friday that a discussion about term limits for committee chairs is "the right conversation to have" as the caucus considers rules for the next Congress.
Thompson's loss also reflects a broader wave of anti-establishment sentiment. In Colorado, conservative firebrand Rep. Lauren Boebert lost her reelection bid to Democrat Eileen Laubacher in the 4th District, denied a fourth term.
Meanwhile, Senate Democrats are heading into a divisive leadership fight after Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland officially challenged longtime leader Chuck Schumer. Van Hollen has picked up endorsements from Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Sen.-elect Abdul El-Sayed of Michigan, though Schumer claims he has the votes to retain his position.
The leadership battles in both chambers signal a party wrestling with its identity and direction as it prepares to assume control of Congress in January.