LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Congressman Mike Thompson announced Monday that he will seek reelection in 2012.
However, due to the California redistricting process, Thompson (D-St. Helena) will not be seeking the First Congressional District seat he was first elected to represent in 1998, as that district has been shifted away to encompass the North Coast minus Lake and Napa counties.
Rather, he will run for the reshaped Fifth Congressional District seat, which now will include Napa County and the southern portion of Lake County. The rest of Lake County will be placed in the Third Congressional District, which will include parts of the Sacramento Valley, including Glenn and Yuba counties.
Thompson's announcement came on the same day that the new California Congressional district maps, drawn by a voter approved independent commission, were certified as final and formally presented to the California Secretary of State.
The maps could be challenged in court or by voters, but most observers believe these will be the new districts, according to Thompson's office.
If these are the final Congressional district maps, Thompson said he will run from his home in the new Fifth Congressional District.
“I have had the honor and great pleasure to represent Lake County for the entire time I have served in public office,” Thompson said in a written statement. “Both the county and the people are fantastic and we've worked well together and enjoyed many successes.”
He added, “While I am sad the redistricting commission choose to split Lake County between two congressional districts, I am thankful that half of Lake County will remain in my district. I don't believe you can work for half a county, so I look forward to continuing to work on behalf of all of Lake County.”
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