Chester C. Thompson

Chester Charles Thompson (September 19, 1893 – January 30, 1971) was an Illinois politician who represented Illinois' 14th District in the United States House of Representatives from 1933 to 1939. Before serving in Congress he served the people as Rock Island County Treasurer and as mayor of Rock Island.

Thompson was born September 19, 1893 in Rock Island, Illinois. He was the son of Charles L. and Susan Miller Thompson. From an early age Thompson was introduced to the world of politics, his father was an Alderman on the City Council. Thompson attended Rock Island public schools and graduated from Rock Island High School in 1911. During World War I Thompson served as a corporal in Headquarters Company of the Twenty-Fifth Coast Artillery from 1918-1919. He was engaged in the plastering business from 1910-1932.

On November 7, 1922 Thompson won his first elective office winning the office of Rock Island County Treasurer, one of two Democrats elected that year in the County he served in that office until 1926. In late 1926 Thompson announced his candidacy for Mayor of Rock Island, Illinois. At this time the City of Rock Island was predominantly Republican and the County Treasurer faced an uphill battle against popular Republican Alderman William R. Carse. In a tight race Thompson stunned the City by winning the election and becoming Rock Island's first Democratic Mayor in 30 years.

Thompson went on to win two more times in 1929 and 1931 defeating former mayor Walter A. Rosenfield by a wide margin and an even wider margin in two years later. Thompson, a New Deal Democrat, announced his candidacy for U.S. Congress in 1931 pledging to bring the nation out of the Great Depression. He went on to win the Democratic nomination, and in a hard fought battle against popular incumbent Congressman John Clayton Allen, Thompson rode to victory as one of the many Democrats winning in a nationwide landslide.

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