Thompson is a Blue Dog Democrat and was previously a member of the New Democrat Coalition. He has been labeled as a "moderate Democratic leader". Thompson has taken nearly $2 million each election cycle from corporations including pharmaceuticals, insurance, weapons, banks, tobacco, oil, sugar and real estate. Thompson has voted with the Democratic party 91% of the time. During the 2008 presidential campaign, Thompson endorsed former U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton (D-New York) for president; his district, however, was narrowly won by Barack Obama.