Samuel D. Thompson

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Sam Thompson
Member of the New Jersey Senate
from the 12th district
In office
January 10, 2012 – January 9, 2024
Preceded byJennifer Beck
Succeeded byOwen Henry
Member of the New Jersey General Assembly
from the 13th district
In office
January 13, 1998 – January 10, 2012
Preceded byJoann H. Smith
Succeeded byDeclan O'Scanlon
Personal details
Born (1935-07-31) July 31, 1935 (age 88)
Mobile, Alabama, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic (2023–present)
Republican (until 2023)
SpouseJacqueline Thompson
Children3
Residence(s)Old Bridge Township, New Jersey, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of Arkansas (BS)
Louisiana State University (PhD)
WebsiteLegislative Website

Samuel D. Thompson (born July 31, 1935) is an American politician and scientist who served in the New Jersey Senate from 2012 to 2024, representing the 12th Legislative district. Prior to redistricting in 2011, he served in the General Assembly from 1998 to 2012, representing the 13th district.

Thompson was first elected as a Republican, but facing a difficult primary over his age, he switched parties in February 2023 and said he would seek re-election as a Democrat.[1] He however reversed his decision and announced on February 27, that he would not run for re-election.[2] His party switch increased the Democratic State Senate majority to 25-15.

Early life[edit]

Thompson was born in Mobile, Alabama and attended public schools in Alabama, Louisiana, and Arkansas. He reached the rank of Specialist Third Class while serving in the U.S. Army from 1955 through 1957. He received a B.S. in 1960 from the University of Arkansas in chemistry and mathematics and was awarded a PhD in 1965 from Louisiana State University in physical chemistry.[3][4][5] He worked as a research chemist at duPont and J.P. Stevens and Company and was employed by the New Jersey Department of Health from 1972 to 1994 as a chemist and director of clinical laboratory improvement service. He served on the United States Armed Forces Epidemiological Board from 1983 to 1990. He was appointed by then Governor of New Jersey Christine Todd Whitman to serve on the Governor's Education Task Force in 1994 as Co-Chair. He served on the New Jersey Turnpike Authority from 1994 to 1997 as director of communications and formerly as director of planning, analysis and government relations. Thompson has served on the New Jersey Advisory Council on Elder Care since 1998, served on the Continuing Care Advisory Council from 1998 to 2002 and on the New Jersey State Council for Adult Literacy Services from 2000 to 2002.[3] He is married to the former Jacqueline P. Haycock, and they live in Old Bridge Township, New Jersey.[5]

Early political career[edit]

Thompson was chair of the Middlesex County Republican Organization from 1987 until 1994 and was a delegate to every Republican National Convention from 1988 through 2012.[3][5]

New Jersey Assembly[edit]

Thompson was first elected to the General Assembly in 1997 in the northern Monmouth County and northeastern Middlesex County-based 13th district. He served as the Assistant Republican Assembly Leader from 2004 to 2005. He served in the Assembly on the Appropriations Committee and the Human Services Committee.[6]

New Jersey Senate[edit]

Elections[edit]

2011 election[edit]

Following the reapportionment of the legislative districts for the 2010 Census, Thompson's hometown of Old Bridge was moved to the new 12th district which was spread across the counties of Burlington, Ocean, Monmouth, and Middlesex. The four Republican county committees endorsed Thompson to be the Senator from the new district[7] and was elected in the 2011 general election defeating Democrat Robert "Bob" Brown.[8]

2017 election[edit]

Thompson defeated challenger Art Haney in the June 3, 2021 primary and Democrat David Lande in the general election.[9]

Tenure[edit]

He sits on three Senate committees (Budget and Appropriations, Environment and Energy, and State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation) and two joint committees (Housing Affordability and Public Schools).[3] In May 2017, Thompson introduced a bill to designate Streptomyces griseus as New Jersey's State Microbe, to be added to the state's other state symbols. S. griseus was chosen for this honor because it is a New Jersey native that made unique contributions to healthcare and scientific research worldwide. A strain of S. griseus that produced the antibiotic streptomycin was discovered in New Jersey in 1916 and developed into an antibiotic by a Rutgers University team by Albert Schatz and Selman Waksman in 1943.[10] A companion bill was introduced in the Assembly in June 2017 by Annette Quijano.[11] During the 2019 budget fight, Democrats passed a budget without Governor Phil Murphy's millionaires tax. Thompson was one of six Republicans to vote for the budget.[12]

Committees[edit]

  • Joint Committee on Housing Affordability
  • Joint Committee on the Public Schools
  • Budget and Appropriations
  • Education
  • State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation

District 12[edit]

Each of the 40 districts in the New Jersey Legislature has one representative in the New Jersey Senate and two members in the New Jersey General Assembly.[13] The representatives from the 12th District for the 2022—23 Legislative Session are:[14]

Electoral history[edit]

Senate[edit]

12th Legislative District General Election, 2021[15]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Samuel D. Thompson (incumbent) 46,897 64.94
Democratic Joseph Altomonte 25,321 35.06
Total votes 72,218 100.0
Republican hold
New Jersey general election, 2017[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Sam Thompson 30,013 56.7 Decrease 8.7
Democratic David H. Lande 21,888 41.4 Increase 6.8
Coach Kev Kevin Antoine 990 1.9 N/A
Total votes '52,891' '100.0'
New Jersey State Senate elections, 2013[17]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Sam Thompson (incumbent) 32,911 65.4
Democratic Raymond D. Dothard 17,440 34.6
Republican hold
New Jersey State Senate elections, 2011[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Samuel D. Thompson 22,578 59.9
Democratic Robert "Bob" Brown 15,125 40.1
Republican hold

Assembly[edit]

New Jersey general election, 2009[18]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Amy H. Handlin 39,998 32.9 Increase 4.3
Republican Samuel D. Thompson 38,967 32.1 Increase 3.6
Democratic Robert "Bob" Brown 20,371 16.8 Decrease 4.0
Democratic James Grenafege 18,769 15.4 Decrease 6.7
Fight Corruption Sean Dunne 3,388 2.8 N/A
Total votes '121,493' '100.0'
New Jersey general election, 2007[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Amy H. Handlin 22,705 28.6 Increase 2.7
Republican Samuel Thompson 22,576 28.5 Increase 2.6
Democratic Patricia Walsh 17,502 22.1 Decrease 0.7
Democratic Robert "Bob" Brown 16,505 20.8 Decrease 1.1
Total votes '79,288' '100.0'
New Jersey general election, 2005[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Amy Handlin 29,405 25.9 Increase 1.8
Republican Samuel D. Thompson 29,326 25.9 Increase 1.5
Democratic William E. Flynn 25,814 22.8 Decrease 1.0
Democratic Michael Dasaro 24,824 21.9 Decrease 1.1
Green Mike Hall 2,061 1.8 Decrease 0.6
Green Greg Orr 1,899 1.7 Decrease 0.6
Total votes '113,329' '100.0'
New Jersey general election, 2003[21]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Samuel D. Thompson 20,378 24.4 Decrease 3.3
Republican Joe Azzolina 20,125 24.1 Decrease 4.8
Democratic Leonard Inzerillo 19,881 23.8 Increase 1.7
Democratic Thomas Perry 19,178 23.0 Increase 2.7
Green Mike W. Hall 2,002 2.4 N/A
Green Jaime Donnelly 1,896 2.3 N/A
Total votes '83,460' '100.0'
New Jersey general election, 2001[22]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Joe Azzolina 33,777 28.9
Republican Samuel D. Thompson 32,397 27.7
Democratic Kevin Graham 25,851 22.1
Democratic Steven T. Piech 23,741 20.3
Libertarian Diane Hittner 874 0.7
We, The People Mac Dara F.X. Lyden 422 0.4
Total votes 117,062 100.0
New Jersey general election, 1999[23]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Joe Azzolina 18,758 28.1 Decrease 2.5
Republican Sam Thompson 17,307 25.9 Decrease 1.2
Democratic Patrick M. Gillespie 15,020 22.5 Increase 2.5
Democratic Alex R. DeSevo 14,015 21.0 Increase 1.4
Conservative Sylvia Kuzmak 820 1.2 Decrease 0.1
Conservative Louis A. Novellino 807 1.2 Decrease 0.2
Total votes '66,727' '100.0'
New Jersey general election, 1997[24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Joe Azzolina 33,976 30.6 Increase 5.1
Republican Sam Thompson 30,108 27.1 Increase 1.9
Democratic Dennis M. Maher 22,162 20.0 Decrease 3.1
Democratic Nicholas Minutolo 21,712 19.6 Decrease 1.8
Conservative Leonard T. Skoblar 1,504 1.4 Decrease 1.1
Conservative Sylvia Kuzmak 1,456 1.3 Decrease 1.0
Total votes '110,918' '100.0'

References[edit]

  1. ^ Wildstein, David (February 13, 2023). "Sam Thompson will switch parties and seek re-election to N.J. Senate as a Democrat". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  2. ^ Wildstein, David (February 13, 2023). "Thompson won't seek re-election after party switch". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d Senator Samuel D. Thompson (R), New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 27, 2022
  4. ^ Assembly Member Samuel D. 'Sam' Thompson, Project Vote Smart. Accessed August 10, 2007.
  5. ^ a b c Manual of the Legislature of New Jersey – Two Hundred and Eleventh Legislature (First Session) (PDF). Skinder-Strauss Associates. 2004. pp. 263–264. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
  6. ^ Senator Thompson's legislative web page, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 27, 2022.
  7. ^ "Official List Candidates for State Senate For June 2011 Primary Election" (PDF). Secretary of State of New Jersey. May 19, 2011. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
  8. ^ a b Official List Candidate Returns for State Senate For November 2011 General Election, New Jersey Department of State, December 14, 2011. Accessed June 22, 2012.
  9. ^ "Art Haney". Ballotpedia. January 23, 2021. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  10. ^ Senate, No. 3190 State of New Jersey 217th Legislature Introduced May 15, 2017, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed November 30, 2017. "Sponsored By: Senator Samuel D. Thompson District 12 (Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth And Ocean) Synopsis: Designates Streptomyces Griseus As New Jersey State Microbe."
  11. ^ Assembly, No. 4900 State of New Jersey 217th Legislature Introduced June 1, 2017, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed November 30, 2017. "Sponsored By: Assemblywoman Annette Quijano District 20 (Union) Synopsis: Designates Streptomyces Griseus As New Jersey State Microbe."
  12. ^ "Senate passes budget 31-6". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
  13. ^ Article IV, New Jersey State Constitution (1947).
  14. ^ Legislative Roster for District 12, New Jersey Legislature. Accessed January 11, 2022.
  15. ^ "Official List, Candidates for State Senate For GENERAL ELECTION 06/08/2021 Election" (PDF). Secretary of State of New Jersey. November 30, 2021. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  16. ^ "2017-official-general-election-results-state-senate.pdf" (PDF). New Jersey Secretary of State. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  17. ^ "Official List Candidates for State Senate For GENERAL ELECTION 11/05/2015 Election" (PDF). Secretary of State of New Jersey. December 4, 2013. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
  18. ^ "2009-official-gen-elect-gen-assembly-tallies-120109.pdf" (PDF). New Jersey Secretary of State. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  19. ^ "2007-official-general-election-tallies(ga)-12.12.07.pdf" (PDF). New Jersey Secretary of State. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  20. ^ "05831236.pdf" (PDF). New Jersey Secretary of State. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  21. ^ "2003g_a_candidate_tally.pdf" (PDF). New Jersey Secretary of State. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
  22. ^ "2001-general-elect-gen-assembly-tallies.pdf" (PDF). New Jersey Secretary of State. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
  23. ^ "1999-general-elect-gen-assembly-candidate-tallies.pdf" (PDF). New Jersey Secretary of State. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
  24. ^ "THE 1997 ELECTIONS: RESULTS; The Races for the New Jersey Assebly". New York Times. Retrieved April 4, 2019.

External links[edit]

New Jersey Senate
Preceded by Member of the New Jersey Senate for the 12th District
January 10, 2012 – January 9, 2024 		Succeeded by
New Jersey General Assembly
Preceded by Member of the New Jersey General Assembly for the 13th District
January 13, 1998 – January 10, 2012
With: Joseph Azzolina, Amy Handlin 		Succeeded by
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