From Grief to Government: Michigan Mom’s Journey to the State House

When Jamie Thompson first stepped into nursing school at 28, she had no idea she would one day be walking the halls of the Michigan State Capitol. Like many working moms, her life was full: raising three kids, supporting her husband’s small business, and eventually helping care for her grandchildren. Politics wasn’t on her radar, until 2020 changed everything. 

“I wasn’t engaged in politics. I wasn’t interested. We were just busy trying to live life,” Thompson said. But the COVID-19 pandemic and the state’s extended lockdowns were a wake-up call. As a nurse, she saw firsthand the confusion and fear within hospitals. Protocols changed by the hour, longtime treatments were suddenly off-limits, and her colleagues, some whom questioned the vaccine, were being forced to choose between their jobs and their beliefs. 

“I saw health care workers stepping away,” she said. “They worked their whole lives to become nurses, and suddenly, that choice was taken from them.” 

Still, it wasn’t until tragedy struck her family that Thompson’s path took a dramatic turn. In June 2021, her 24-year-old daughter Jordan was killed in a motorcycle accident just days after her great-grandfather passed away. Jordan left behind three young children. The grief was overwhelming, but Thompson leaned on her faith and a sense of purpose. 

“I told God, I give you everything. I can’t breathe with this pain,” she said. “Tell me what to do and I’ll do it.” 

Soon after, the local Republican Party came calling, looking for someone to run for office. Despite the heartbreak and the heavy responsibility of raising her grandchildren, Thompson said yes. 

Her run was unconventional, grassroots, and deeply personal. “I didn’t make it about Republican or Democrat,” she said. “I was on doorsteps saying, ‘I live down the street. Here’s why I care.’” 

She won. First narrowly, then by a landslide in her reelection. 

Thompson’s story is a powerful example of how personal conviction and resilience can drive change. She’s showing what’s possible when ordinary people take one small step. 

Now serving in Lansing, Thompson says she’s not a politician, just a public servant. “I remind people all the time: I’m not special. I’m just like you.”