Christopher Thomas

Christopher Thomas is a fellow with BPC’s Election Project. Thomas is retired from the Michigan Department of State on June 30, 2017, after 40 years of election administration service, which included 36 years as Michigan’s Director of Elections. Thomas worked for Democratic and Republican Secretaries of State. 

While employed by the Michigan Secretary of State, Thomas administered the Michigan election law, campaign finance act, and lobbyist disclosure law and served as Secretary to the Board of State Canvassers. He began his election administration career in 1974 in Washington, D.C. with the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives and the Federal Election Commission. 

In 2013, President Barack Obama appointed Thomas as a Commissioner on the Presidential Commission on Election Administration, which made recommendations to improve the election day experience of America’s voters. 

Thomas earned a B.A. in Political Science from Michigan State University, an M.A. in Urban Affairs from St. Louis University in St. Louis, MO, and a J.D. from Thomas Cooley Law School in Lansing.  He is currently a member of the Michigan State Bar Association and was an Adjunct Professor at Thomas M. Cooley Law School, teaching Election Law between 2001 and 2013.