A New Day for the 1st Congressional District of Virginia

Hi, I’m exploring a run for the Democratic nomination in Virginia’s 1st Congressional District—because I care deeply about this country and the people who call it home. I believe in the values our founders laid out: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.

For nearly 20 years, this district has been held by a Republican. And while a lot has changed during that time, the representation hasn’t. I think it’s time for a fresh perspective and new energy. Even the DCCC has identified this seat as winnable—and I agree.

I’m not a career politician—I’m just a regular guy who’s spent his life working hard, serving others, and trying to do the right thing.

I grew up in a small farming and logging town on the West Coast, where I started working early—picking berries, making jerky in a factory, and delivering pizzas for Domino’s. My family taught me the value of hard work, and that lesson stuck with me.

I went to college at a small university in Hawaii, then graduated from the University of Oregon with degrees in philosophy and journalism and communications. My first career was in journalism—working at newspapers in Colorado, North Carolina, and right here in Virginia. I stood up for regular people, whether that meant pushing back against a proposed state police firing range near a neighborhood or exposing corruption in small-town government. In one case, my reporting helped send a crooked developer to federal prison.

More than a decade ago, my wife and I moved to Richmond, Virginia, and I shifted gears—founding a small communications and web business. I ran that company for almost 10 years, working with clients across the U.S. and abroad. I know what it’s like to pay vendors, manage a budget, and juggle the demands of a small business.

For the past two years, I’ve been a teacher, sharing my love for history and economics with students in Richmond. Teaching is one of the most meaningful things I’ve ever done—I believe in investing in the next generation.

Giving back has always been part of who I am. I’ve volunteered for years with Hill City Church in Henrico County, and I’ve served on the boards of the Midlothian Business Alliance and the Museum District Association.

When the current Congressman first took office, the national debt was about $10 trillion. Now, it’s nearly $30 trillion. That’s not sustainable. We need serious, bipartisan solutions to get our fiscal house in order and avoid a future debt crisis.

Everyday costs—housing, food, insurance—are crushing families. People are working harder than ever and still falling behind. Washington needs to wake up and take real action to ease the burden on average Americans.

Young men are struggling—with rising rates of anxiety, depression, and academic underperformance. Women now outnumber men in colleges and professional schools. As Democrats, we need to speak to everyone, and that includes young men who feel left behind.

Programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security are lifelines for millions of Americans—about 30% of us rely on one or more. But these programs won’t last unless we’re willing to have honest conversations about long-term sustainability and reform.