Cody Thompson (politician)

Cody Hansbrough Thompson (born February 12, 1987) is an American politician and educator, who was elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates in the 2018 elections.[1] He represented the 43rd House District, which included Randolph County and Pocahontas County, as a member of the Democratic Party.[2] He was defeated by Elias Coop-Gonzalez in 2022.

Cody Thompson
Member of the West Virginia House of Delegates
from the 43rd district
In office
December 1, 2018 – December 1, 2022
Preceded byPhil Isner
Succeeded byNew boundaries
Personal details
Born
Cody Hansbrough Thompson

(1987-02-12) February 12, 1987
Elkins, West Virginia, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Residence(s)Elkins, West Virginia
Alma materMarshall University (BA)
West Virginia University (MA)
OccupationTeacher
Websitewww.votecodythompson.com

Politics

Thompson ran for reelection in 2020 as part of WV Can't Wait, which ran a slate of endorsed candidates across political parties, spearheaded by community organizer and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stephen Smith.[3]

In 2021, Thompson was named as an assistant minority whip by House Minority Leader Doug Skaff.[4]

Later that year, he spoke out and voted against a bill that forces transgender students to play on sports teams according to the sex they are assigned at birth, as opposed to their gender identity.[5] Thompson is also a supporter of the Fairness Act, which would add sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes in West Virginia’s Human Rights Act and the Fair Housing Act.[6]

During a special legislative session in October 2021, Thompson criticized the Republican majority for allegedly gerrymandering him out of the new House map.[7] However, he was one of just three Democrats to vote for the final redistricting map.[8]

Personal

Thompson serves as a teacher at Elkins High School in Randolph County, West Virginia.[6]

Thompson is the second openly gay member of the West Virginia Legislature, after former Delegate Stephen Skinner. At the time of his election in 2018, Thompson was the only openly gay member of the Legislature.[9][10]

References
  1. "Activists nick GOP leadership, but Republicans keep control of Legislature". The Herald-Dispatch, November 8, 2018.
  2. "West Virginia House District 43". West Virginia Legislature. Archived from the original on 2016-12-30.
  3. Adams, Steven Allen (June 22, 2020). "'WV Can't Wait' political movement sees successes in primary". Weirton Daily Times.
  4. Adams, Steven Allen (January 6, 2021). "New W.Va. House Minority Leader Names Leadership Team". The Intelligencer and Wheeling News Register.
  5. McCormick, Liz (March 17, 2021). "Bill Placing Restrictions On Transgender Student Athletes Passes W.Va. House Education Committee". West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
  6. Pierson, Lacie (February 9, 2021). "Mandt's statements show need for LGBTQ+ protections in state law, lawmakers say". Charleston Gazette-Mail.
  7. Adams, Steven Allen (October 9, 2021). "Democrats Accuse GOP of Gerrymandering in Proposed West Virginia House of Delegates Map". The Intelligencer and Wheeling News Register.
  8. Karbal, Ian (October 15, 2021). "After promises of transparency and fairness, WV redistricting devolves into a partisan exercise". Mountain State Spotlight.
  9. Zuckerman, Jake (November 22, 2018). "Teachers, veterans, a beekeeper, oh my! 36 new delegates to claim seats in Jan". Charleston Gazette-Mail.
  10. "WV Restores LGBTQ Representation in State Legislature; Cody Thompson Wins Key Race". Victory Fund. November 6, 2018. Archived from the original on 2021-05-05.
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