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==Supporting conservative causes==​

==Supporting conservative causes==​

Thompson, along with House colleague [[Dan Richey]] of Ferriday cast critical votes in the House Civil Law Committee against the proposed [[Equal Rights Amendment]], which lost 5-9 in the panel and was therefore was not referred to the full House for an up-or-down vote. Thompson's right-to-life supporters organized against the ERA on the premise that if implemented it would have federalized family law. Therefore, they convinced the lawmaker to reverse his previously stated support for the ERA. Lafayette has been a center of anti-abortion activism since the [[United States Supreme Court]] issued the ''[[Roe v. Wade]]'' opinion in January 1973, which legalized access to abortion.​

Thompson, along with House colleague [[Dan Richey]] of Ferriday, cast critical votes in the House Civil Law Committee against the proposed [[Equal Rights Amendment]], which lost 5-9 in the committee and was therefore not referred to the full House for an up-or-down vote. Thompson's right-to-life supporters organized against the ERA on the premise that if implemented it would have federalized family law. Therefore, they convinced the lawmaker to reverse his previously stated support for the ERA. Lafayette has been a center of anti-abortion activism since the [[United States Supreme Court]] issued the ''[[Roe v. Wade]]'' opinion in January 1973, which legalized access to abortion.​

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Certain Lafayette physicians signed a statement declaring that life begins before birth and vowed not to perform abortions, which remain relatively rare in Acadiana, in which French culture is paramount. The doctors said that, despite ''Roe'', ''"we feel compelled to continue to practice our profession in accordance with our moral beliefs, central to which is the preservation of life"''. ​

Certain Lafayette physicians signed a statement declaring that life begins before birth and vowed not to perform abortions, which remain relatively rare in Acadiana, in which French culture is paramount. The doctors said that, despite ''Roe'', "we feel compelled to continue to practice our profession in accordance with our moral beliefs, central to which is the preservation of life.". ​

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In 2006, the Desormeaux Foundation, which funds a Lafayette crisis pregnancy center, honored three physicians at the forefront of the anti-abortion movement, as well as former Lafayette Republican Mayor Dud Lastrapes, and Thompson.

In 2006, the Desormeaux Foundation, which funds a Lafayette crisis pregnancy center, honored three physicians at the forefront of the anti-abortion movement, as well as former Lafayette Republican Mayor Dudley Lastrapes, and Thompson.

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In 1978, upon his switch to the Republican Party, Thompson was a candidate in Louisiana's since disbanded 7th congressional district]]. He polled 42,247 votes (32.6 percent) to the incumbent Democrat [[John Breaux]]'s 78,297 (60.4 percent). A second Democrat, John W. "Johnny" Myers, held the remaining 7 percent of the ballots cast.<ref>Billy Hathorn, ''The Republican Party in Louisiana, 1920-1980 ([[Natchitoches, Louisiana|Natchitoches]], [[Louisiana]]: [[Northwestern State University]], 1980), pp. 275-276.</ref>​

In 1978, upon his switch to the Republican Party, Thompson was a candidate in Louisiana's since disbanded 7th congressional district]]. He polled 42,247 votes (32.6 percent) to the incumbent Democrat [[John Breaux]]'s 78,297 (60.4 percent). A second Democrat, John W. "Johnny" Myers, held the remaining 7 percent of the ballots cast.<ref>Billy Hathorn, ''The Republican Party in Louisiana, 1920-1980 ([[Natchitoches, Louisiana|Natchitoches]], [[Louisiana]]: [[Northwestern State University]], 1980), pp. 275-276.</ref>​