Manager/Producer Larry Thompson Announces New Bid For Congress

Ted Johnson
·3 min read
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Manager/producer Larry Thompson is making another run for a Southern California congressional seat, this time in a district represented by Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA).

Thompson has entered the race as a Republican, after seeking a seat as an independent in 2020.

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In his kickoff statement, Thompson noted that he had been a talent representative for 50 years and as “either their lawyer or personal manager I have spent a career listening, caring, nurturing, planning, marketing, negotiating, and enhancing their personas and lives. I now want to be a ‘Representative’ of the people who live in our California 32nd District to do those things for them even more profoundly, give them a voice, and empower their lives.”

Thompson said that he is running as a moderate Republican seeking common ground and said that “the polarized political positions in our nation have become dangerous in many ways.” On issues, he cites the need to the secure the border and address comprehensive immigration reform, and calls for lowering taxes. That includes opposition to Measure ULA, the recently enacted tax on properties sold at or above $5 million in the city.

Thompson faces an uphill battle in the 32nd district, which includes coastal areas of Malibu and Pacific Palisades, and stretches north into Encino, Studio City, Sherman Oaks and Northridge. Cook Political Report has labeled the seat as “solid” for Democrats next year, as have other political prognosticators. Sherman, who has been in office since 1997, had $3.2 million cash on hand as of Sept. 30, and he beat his GOP opponent by 69% to 31% in 2022. His office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

But when Thompson runs in the state primary on March 5, he may have a better shot at securing one of two ballot positions in November than he did during his last run. In 2020, as an independent, Thompson sought the 37th congressional seat held by Karen Bass, but he did not make the general election.

Thompson is producer of Lifetime’s upcoming Ladies of the 80s: A Divas Christmas, which has drawn buzz for a cast that includes Loni Anderson, Morgan Fairchild, Linda Gray, Donna Mills and Nicollette Sheridan, with the project debuting on Dec. 2. He’s managed the careers of 200 performers and his dozens of other credits include the TV movies Liz & Dick and Amish Grace, two TV series and features and specials. The National Conference of Personal Managers inducted him into their Hall of Fame in 2016, and he also was honored by the Talent Managers Association with the Seymour Heller Award for Lifetime Achievement in Talent Management. Thompson was born and raised in Mississippi and, after finishing law school at the University of Mississippi, headed to Los Angeles. From 1968 to 1974, he served in the United States Army Reserve’s Judge Advocate General’s Corps.

Thompson is the latest entertainment figure to seek a congressional seat. Actor Ben Savage is among a large field of Democratic candidates seeking to succeed Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) in the neighboring 30th congressional district. Actor Hill Harper is seeking the Democratic nomination for Michigan’s open U.S. Senate seat.

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