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 and was elected in the 2011 general election defeating Democrat Robert "Bob" Brown. 2017 election Thompson defeated challenger Art Haney in the June 3, 2021 primary and Democrat David Lande in the general election. Tenure 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). 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. A companion bill was introduced in the Assembly in June 2017 by Annette Quijano. 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. Committees Joint Committee on Housing Affordability Joint Committee on the Public Schools Budget and Appropriations Education State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation District 12 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. The representatives from the 12th District for the 2022—23 Legislative Session are: Senator Samuel D. Thompson (D) Assemblyman Robert D. Clifton (R) Assemblyman Alex Sauickie (R) Electoral history Senate Assembly References External links Senator Sam Thompson's Official Site Senator Thompson's legislative web page, New Jersey Legislature New Jersey Legislature financial disclosure forms – 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 Assembly Member Samuel D. 'Sam' Thompson, Project Vote Smart 1935 births Living people Louisiana State University alumni Republican Party members of the New Jersey General Assembly Republican Party New Jersey state senators People from Old Bridge Township, New Jersey Politicians from Middlesex County, New Jersey Politicians from Mobile, Alabama University of Arkansas alumni 21st-century