Glenn Thompson Bio
Glenn William “GT” Thompson Jr. is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for Pennsylvania’s 15th congressional district. A member of the Republican Party, he has represented central and north-central Pennsylvania in Congress since 2009. Since 2023, he has chaired the House Agriculture Committee, and in 2025 he became the dean of Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation.
Before entering public service, Thompson built a long career in healthcare, working for nearly three decades as a therapist, rehabilitation services manager, and licensed nursing home administrator. He has also volunteered for decades as a firefighter, emergency medical technician, and rescue technician in his home community.
Early Life and Background
Glenn William “GT” Thompson Jr. was born on July 27, 1959, in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania. He grew up in the small community of Howard, Pennsylvania, where he developed the rural roots that would later shape his political career. He is the son of a Navy veteran, and his upbringing in a tight-knit central Pennsylvania town influenced his lifelong commitment to public service and community involvement.
Thompson attended Pennsylvania State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in therapeutic recreation. He continued his education at Temple University, where he received dual master’s degrees in therapeutic recreation and health science. His academic training prepared him for a long professional career in healthcare services before he transitioned into politics.
Path to US Politics
After completing his education, Thompson worked for 28 years as a therapist, rehabilitation services manager, and licensed nursing home administrator in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. His professional experience gave him direct insight into the healthcare challenges facing rural communities, which became a central focus of his later policy work in Congress.
Thompson’s entry into politics came through local party leadership. He served as chairman of the Centre County Republican Committee for six years, building the organizational relationships and political network that would support his later congressional campaigns. His deep community ties, combined with his long record of volunteer service as a firefighter, emergency medical technician, and rescue technician with the Howard Volunteer Fire Company, helped establish him as a trusted local figure. In 2008, he successfully ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in Pennsylvania’s 5th congressional district, beginning his career in federal office.
Glenn Thompson Career
Early Career (2009-2014)
Thompson was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2008, defeating Democratic nominee Mark McCracken by a margin of 58% to 42% in Pennsylvania’s 5th congressional district. When the 112th Congress convened on January 5, 2011, his vote was the 218th vote for John Boehner, providing the majority needed to elect Boehner as Speaker of the House. During the 112th Congress, Thompson became chairman of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Forestry, Conservation, and Energy, an early signal of his long-term interest in agricultural policy.
Thompson won his subsequent re-election campaigns with comfortable margins, defeating Democratic nominee Michael Pipe 69% to 28% in 2010 and Democratic nominee Charles Dumas 63% to 37% in 2012. He also defeated Democratic nominee Kerith Strano Taylor 64% to 36% in 2014, solidifying his hold on the district and establishing a reputation as a reliable conservative voice for rural Pennsylvania.
Congressional Leadership and Agriculture Focus (2015-2022)
At the start of the 115th Congress in 2017, Thompson was named vice-chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture. In December 2020, ahead of the 117th Congress, he was elevated to ranking member of the agriculture committee, positioning him to lead the panel when Republicans regained the majority. In January 2018, Thompson voted for the Fiscal Year 2018 continuing resolution, praising the measure for delaying what he called three onerous and unpopular Obamacare taxes.
Thompson continued to win re-election by wide margins, defeating Kerith Strano Taylor again 67% to 33% in 2016. After the Pennsylvania Supreme Court redrew the congressional district map in February 2018, his district was renumbered the 15th. In the 2018 general election, he defeated Democratic nominee Susan Boser 68% to 32%, beginning his tenure representing the new 15th district. He went on to defeat Robert Williams 73.5% to 26.5% in 2020, and Lewisburg Borough Council Member Mike Molesevich 70% to 30% in 2022. In 2023, in response to California’s Proposition 12, Thompson introduced the Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression Act, which sought to prohibit state and local governments from imposing production standards on agricultural goods sold in interstate commerce, though the proposal was ultimately not included in the farm bill extension.
House Agriculture Chairman Era (2023-Present)
Since 2023, Glenn Thompson has chaired the House Agriculture Committee, giving him a leading role in shaping federal farm policy, rural development programs, and nutrition assistance. In this position, he has been a central figure in negotiations over the farm bill and has advocated for policies that he argues protect American agricultural producers from outside regulatory pressure.
In January 2025, Thompson praised President Donald Trump’s proposals to implement 25% tariffs on most goods from Canada and Mexico, describing the approach as an effective tool for ensuring fair trade for American producers. Later that year, Thompson became the dean of Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation following the defeat of Senator Bob Casey Jr., a position that recognizes his seniority among the state’s members of Congress.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the most discussed moments of Thompson’s career came in July 2022, when he voted against the Respect for Marriage Act, which would codify the right to same-sex marriage, just days before attending his son’s same-sex wedding. In December 2020, Thompson was one of 126 Republican members of the House of Representatives to sign an amicus brief in support of Texas v. Pennsylvania, a lawsuit contesting the results of the 2020 presidential election. The Supreme Court declined to hear the case on the basis that Texas lacked standing under the Constitution to challenge the results of an election held by another state.
Glenn Thompson Career Wins
Glenn Thompson has won every congressional election he has contested since first being elected in 2008, often by wide margins in a strongly Republican district. His repeated victories reflect sustained support from voters in central and north-central Pennsylvania, particularly in rural communities tied to agriculture, manufacturing, and small business.
Congressional Election Highlights
Thompson’s first congressional victory came in 2008, when he defeated Democratic nominee Mark McCracken 58% to 42% in Pennsylvania’s 5th congressional district. He has since won re-election in 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022, and 2024, with his most recent victory coming against law student Zach Womer by a margin of 71.5% to 28.5%.
After redistricting in 2018, Thompson transitioned to representing Pennsylvania’s 15th congressional district, where he has continued to post decisive wins. His ability to consistently secure more than 60% of the vote in both district configurations has made him one of the most electorally secure members of Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation.
Other Wins and Achievements
Beyond electoral success, Thompson has earned significant leadership positions within the House Republican Conference. His rise from subcommittee chairman in the 112th Congress to vice-chairman, then ranking member, and ultimately full chairman of the House Agriculture Committee in 2023 represents one of the clearest signs of his influence within the conference. His 2025 elevation to dean of Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation further reflects his standing as a senior figure in the state’s federal political landscape.
Glenn Thompson Family
Family Background and Service Lineage
Glenn Thompson is the son of a Navy veteran, and his family’s tradition of military and community service has shaped his own lifelong commitment to public service. Growing up in Howard, Pennsylvania, he was surrounded by neighbors and family members who valued civic duty, a perspective that carried into his long career as a volunteer firefighter, emergency medical technician, and rescue technician with the Howard Volunteer Fire Company.
Personal Life
Glenn Thompson is married to Penny Ammerman. The couple has raised their family in central Pennsylvania, where Thompson has spent much of his life working in healthcare, volunteering with local emergency services, and eventually serving in Congress.