Mike Thurmond
Encyclopedia
Michael L. "Mike" Thurmond (born January 5, 1953) is the former Commissioner of Labor for the state of Georgia
and was the Democratic Party's nominee for United States Senate in 2010
.
Born in rural Clarke County
and raised in poverty as a sharecropper's son in Oconee County
, Thurmond graduated Cum Laude with a B.A. in Philosophy and Religion from Paine College
in 1975 and later earned a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of South Carolina
School of Law.
In 1986, he became the first African-American elected to the Georgia General Assembly
from Clarke County since Reconstruction. Thurmond was elected Labor Commissioner in November 1998 and was re-elected in 2002 and in 2006
. Thurmond has also lectured at the University of Georgia
's Carl Vinson Institute of Government and is the author of several books on Georgia history. Thurmond is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi
fraternity.
. He easily defeated his opponent in the Democratic primary, county employee RJ Hadley
, on July 20. He lost the general election to Isakson and was succeeded as Commissioner of Labor by former state representative Mark Butler, a member of the Republican Party
.
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
and was the Democratic Party's nominee for United States Senate in 2010
United States Senate election in Georgia, 2010
The 2010 United States Senate election in Georgia took place on November 2, 2010. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson won re-election to a second term.-Candidates:*Mike Thurmond, Commissioner of Labor...
.
Born in rural Clarke County
Clarke County, Georgia
Clarke County is a county in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2000 census, the population was 101,489. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 114,063...
and raised in poverty as a sharecropper's son in Oconee County
Oconee County, Georgia
Oconee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created on February 25, 1875. As of the 2000 census, the population was 26,225. Census estimates for 2007 show a population of 31,367...
, Thurmond graduated Cum Laude with a B.A. in Philosophy and Religion from Paine College
Paine College
Paine College is a private Historically Black college located in Augusta, Georgia.-Mission:The Mission of Paine College, a church-related private institution, is to provide a liberal arts education of the highest quality that emphasizes academic excellence, ethical and spiritual values, social...
in 1975 and later earned a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of South Carolina
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
School of Law.
In 1986, he became the first African-American elected to the Georgia General Assembly
Georgia General Assembly
The Georgia General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is bicameral, being composed of the Georgia House of Representatives and the Georgia Senate....
from Clarke County since Reconstruction. Thurmond was elected Labor Commissioner in November 1998 and was re-elected in 2002 and in 2006
Georgia statewide elections, 2006
The Georgia statewide elections were held on November 7, 2006. The primary election was held on July 18. Contests in which no single candidate received a majority of the vote were decided in a runoff election on August 8....
. Thurmond has also lectured at the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
's Carl Vinson Institute of Government and is the author of several books on Georgia history. Thurmond is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi
Kappa Alpha Psi
Kappa Alpha Psi is a collegiate Greek-letter fraternity with a predominantly African American membership. Since the fraternity's founding on January 5, 1911 at Indiana University Bloomington, the fraternity has never limited membership based on color, creed or national origin...
fraternity.
U.S. Senate campaign
In April 2010, Thurmond announced his intention to challenge incumbent Republican Senator Johnny IsaksonJohnny Isakson
John Hardy "Johnny" Isakson is the junior United States Senator from Georgia and a member of the Republican Party. Previously, he represented in the House....
. He easily defeated his opponent in the Democratic primary, county employee RJ Hadley
RJ Hadley
RJ Hadley is a Democratic Party activist and former candidate for United States Senate in Georgia. He was a delegate to the 2008 Democratic National Convention. He has been a member of the Rockdale County Democratic Party since 2006 and was elected to its executive board in 2010.Hadley is a...
, on July 20. He lost the general election to Isakson and was succeeded as Commissioner of Labor by former state representative Mark Butler, a member of the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
.