Before becoming an elected official he worked as a homebuilder in metro Detroit, where he was Construction Manager for Parkside Building Company and Avis Tech Park partners, managing both commercial renovations and single-family, residential construction.

[citation needed] In 1996, one hundred and four years after his great grand uncle, William Webb Ferguson, was the first African-American elected to the Michigan Legislature, Thomas was elected to the Michigan State House of Representatives.

In 2007, his colleagues once again elected him to a leadership position, as the Senate Democratic Floor Leader.

[citation needed] He has received awards and recognition from over two dozen community groups, publications, and organizations.

Buzz Thomas was the ranking Democrat on the Economic Development and Regulatory Reform Committee.