Manager/Producer Larry Thompson Announces New Convention Offering

Manager/producer Larry Thompson is once again running for a congressional seat in Southern California, this time in a district held by Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) is represented.

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

In his opening statement, Thompson noted that he has been a talent representative for fifty years and that as “their advocate or personal manager, I have spent an entire career listening to them, mentoring them, promoting them, planning them, to market, to negotiate and to improve their personalities and their lives.” .I now want to be a “representative” of the people who live in our 32nd District of California, to do these things even more for them, to give them a voice and to empower their lives.

Thompson said he is running as a moderate Republican looking for common ground and that “the polarized political positions in our country have become dangerous in many ways.” In this context, he points to the need to secure the border and enact comprehensive immigration reforms, and calls for tax cuts. That includes opposition to the ULA measure, the recently implemented tax on properties sold in the city for $5 million or more.

Thompson faces a tough battle in the 32nd District, which covers the coastal areas of Malibu and Pacific Palisades and stretches north to Encino, Studio City, Sherman Oaks and Northridge. The Cook Political Report rates the Democratic seat next year as “solid,” as do other political forecasters. Sherman, in office since 1997, had $3.2 million cash on hand as of Sept. 30 and defeated his 2022 Republican opponent 69% to 31%. His office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

But if Thompson makes it to the state’s March 5 primary, he may have a better chance of securing any seat in November than he did in his last campaign. In 2020, Thompson sought Karen Bass’ 37th Congressional seat as an independent, but did not advance to the general election.

Thompson is a producer on Lifetime’s upcoming film Ladies of the 80s: A Divas ChristmasIt garnered a lot of attention for a cast that included Loni Anderson, Morgan Fairchild, Linda Gray, Donna Mills and Nicollette Sheridan. The project starts on December 2. He has overseen the careers of 200 artists and his dozens of other credits include television films Liz and Dick And Amish Grace, two TV series as well as features and specials. The National Conference of Personal Managers inducted him into its Hall of Fame in 2016 and he also received the Seymour Heller Award for Lifetime Achievement in Talent Management from the Talent Managers Association. Born and raised in Mississippi, Thompson moved to Los Angeles after graduating from the University of Mississippi with a law degree. From 1968 to 1974, he served in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps of the US Army Reserve.

Thompson is the latest entertainment figure to seek a seat in Congress. Actor Ben Savage is one of a large field of Democratic candidates running for Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) in the neighboring 30th Congressional District. Actor Hill Harper is seeking the Democratic nomination for the open US Senate seat in Michigan.