Nicholas Thompson

Nicholas Thompson was born in Chico, California. He earned a high school diploma from Pleasant Valley High School.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

My name is Nicholas Aiden Thompson. I am running for governor of California in 2026 to bring a fresh perspective and new ideas to the state's leadership. As someone deeply committed to the principles of individual liberty and effective governance, I aim to represent the interests of all Californians and promote policies that ensure freedom, prosperity, and accountability.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Individual Freedom: Promote personal liberty and responsibility.Economic Prosperity: Foster an environment suitable to drive innovation, job creation, and economic growth.Government Accountability: Ensure transparency and accountability in government, making sure taxpayer money is used wisely.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Advocating for the viability and importance of all voices in elections. A third-party vote is not wasted. I am very passionate for ranked choice voting to ensure fair representation and empower voters to choose candidates they truly support.

I also advocate for reducing non-violent offenses, promoting rehabilitation over incarceration, and ensuring fairness and accountability in law enforcement practices.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

"The Libertarian Mind: A Manifesto for Freedom" by David Boaz

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Integrity, ideological consistency, commitment to individual human rights, fiscal responsibility, transparency in decision-making, and a strong stance against corruption and abuse of power.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Protect individual freedoms, promote economic opportunity, ensure public safety, manage state finances responsibly, and uphold the rule of law.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

The Killing of Osama bin Laden; I was five.

A governor is the top executive authority in his or her state. What does that mean do you?

It means that I'd have the privilege and responsibility to lead our state forward, making decisions that uphold our values of liberty, opportunity, and accountability for every Californian.

Governors have many responsibilities, which vary from state to state. Which of those do you personally consider the most important in your state?

I prioritize ensuring effective management of state finances and promoting policies that foster economic growth and opportunity for all residents.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

One of cooperation, checks and balances, and mutual respect.

Under what circumstances should the governor of your state be able to use emergency powers?

Sparingly and only in cases where immediate action is necessary to protect life, property, or individual liberties from imminent and severe threats that cannot be addressed through normal legislative processes.

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

They are necessary to ensure trust in an effective governance.

Do you support or oppose changes to the current state ballot initiative process? If so, what kind of changes would you consider?

I support exploring reforms like ranked choice voting (RCV) to enhance voter choice and representation in the ballot initiative process. RCV helps ensure that initiatives reflect broader consensus and reduce polarization.

Note: Thompson submitted the above survey responses to [the profile publisher] on September 2, 2024.

July 16 submission

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

My name is Nicholas Aiden Thompson. I am running for governor of California in 2026 to bring a fresh perspective and new ideas to the state's leadership. As someone deeply committed to the principles of individual liberty and effective governance, I aim to represent the interests of all Californians and promote policies that ensure freedom, prosperity, and accountability.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Individual Freedom: Promote personal liberty and responsibility.Economic Prosperity: Foster an environment suitable to drive innovation, job creation, and economic growth.Government Accountability: Ensure transparency and accountability in government, making sure taxpayer money is used wisely.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Advocating for the viability and importance of all voices in elections. A third-party vote is not wasted. I am very passionate for ranked choice voting to ensure fair representation and empower voters to choose candidates they truly support.

I also advocate for reducing non-violent offenses, promoting rehabilitation over incarceration, and ensuring fairness and accountability in law enforcement practices.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

"The Libertarian Mind: A Manifesto for Freedom" by David Boaz

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Integrity, ideological consistency, commitment to individual human rights, fiscal responsibility, transparency in decision-making, and a strong stance against corruption and abuse of power.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Protect individual freedoms, promote economic opportunity, ensure public safety, manage state finances responsibly, and uphold the rule of law.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

The Killing of Osama bin Laden; I was five.

A governor is the top executive authority in his or her state. What does that mean do you?

It means that I'd have the privilege and responsibility to lead our state forward, making decisions that uphold our values of liberty, opportunity, and accountability for every Californian.

Governors have many responsibilities, which vary from state to state. Which of those do you personally consider the most important in your state?

I prioritize ensuring effective management of state finances and promoting policies that foster economic growth and opportunity for all residents.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

One of cooperation, checks and balances, and mutual respect.

Under what circumstances should the governor of your state be able to use emergency powers?

Sparingly and only in cases where immediate action is necessary to protect life, property, or individual liberties from imminent and severe threats that cannot be addressed through normal legislative processes

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

They are necessary to ensure trust in an effective governance.

Do you support or oppose changes to the current state ballot initiative process? If so, what kind of changes would you consider?

I support exploring reforms like ranked choice voting (RCV) to enhance voter choice and representation in the ballot initiative process. RCV helps ensure that initiatives reflect broader consensus and reduce polarization.