Candidate Q&A
Why are you running?
I am running to take the concerns of the often-forgotten middle-class American to Washington, D.C., so that our government once again reflects the realities of the families who work hard, play by the rules, and still feel left behind. I know firsthand what it means to juggle rising costs, limited opportunity, and a system that too often feels disconnected from everyday life. My goal is to be a clear, consistent voice for parents, workers, and small business owners who deserve policies that respect their labor, protect their families, and create real pathways to stability and upward mobility.
What do you think is the most pressing issue facing your constituents and how do you plan on addressing it?
The lack of jobs and sustainable industry in Congressional District 1 is one of the most urgent challenges facing our community and it’s a problem shared by many districts across the country. Addressing this is a top priority of my legislative agenda. I plan to focus on policies that incentivize domestic manufacturing, support small and family-owned businesses, reduce regulatory barriers that stifle growth, and align workforce development with real labor market needs so residents can access stable, well-paying jobs without leaving the district.
What is one unique challenge your district faces and how do you plan to address it?
Congressional District 1 is uniquely impacted by a high concentration of severely underperforming schools—schools that not only fail to meet academic standards, but place an enormous burden on families who are already stretched thin. Parents are forced to make impossible choices: stay in systems that are not serving their children, or drain household resources in search of better options. I’ve seen how this reality stunts opportunity, limits future prospects, and leaves too many children behind before they ever get a fair start. Addressing this crisis is not just about education policy—it’s about protecting families, restoring hope, and ensuring every child in our district has access to a quality education that prepares them for life, work, and citizenship.
What do you think federal immigration reform should look like?
I believe federal immigration reform must begin with a clear priority: protecting the interests, safety, and economic stability of American-born citizens, especially working families who are already under significant strain. At the same time, America has always been a nation that offers refuge to those genuinely seeking safety and a lawful path to a better future.
Real reform means restoring order and integrity to a broken system. That requires refining our immigration process so the fabric of our nation remains intact rooted in the rule of law, respect for borders, and shared civic responsibility, while also creating clear, efficient, and humane pathways to citizenship for non-criminal individuals who contribute positively to our communities and are willing to follow the law.
We can be both compassionate and firm. A system that is fair, orderly, and enforced protects Americans, preserves opportunity, and ensures that immigration strengthens our country rather than overwhelms it.
How should Congress address the rising costs of health care?
The healthcare marketplace has not functioned as a true marketplace for quite some time. Instead of empowering patients, the system too often treats them like pawns, trapped between opaque pricing, limited choices, and predatory practices by large insurance and pharmaceutical interests. Families are left navigating rising premiums, unaffordable prescriptions, and unexpected hospital bills with little transparency or control.
My goal is to craft and support legislation that restores the patient to the center of healthcare. That means encouraging real competition, increasing price transparency, breaking down monopolistic practices, and fostering innovation that lowers prescription drug costs, reduces hospital expenses, and rewards care models that produce better health outcomes—not just higher billing. Healthcare should work for patients and families, not against them.
What approach would you take on tax policy and what is your top priority?
My approach to tax policy is rooted in a simple principle: hardworking Americans should keep more of what they earn, instead of watching the government claim the bulk of their effort. When people work extra hours, take on overtime, or rely on tips to make ends meet, they should actually receive the benefit of that work. That’s why I support policies like eliminating federal taxes on tips and overtime pay.
I also want to reduce the federal tax burden on homeowners who are already being crushed by excessive and predatory property taxes in states like Illinois. Families shouldn’t be punished twice—once by local property taxes and again at the federal level—for simply owning a home and trying to stay rooted in their communities.
Is the House currently using its oversight powers in the way it should be? What areas of government need more or less oversight?
When federal dollars are wasted or misused, it’s not an abstract problem—it shows up in people’s daily lives. It means fewer resources for schools, higher taxes for working families, crumbling infrastructure, and programs that never seem to work the way they were promised. I believe the House should be using its oversight authority far more seriously to make sure taxpayer dollars are actually reaching the communities and services they’re meant to support.
Strong oversight protects families from paying the price for government waste and corruption. When money is siphoned off through mismanagement or abuse, everyday Americans are left covering the bill while seeing little return. Congress has a responsibility to follow the money, demand accountability, and ensure federal spending delivers real results for the people who fund it.
What is the most pressing foreign policy issue facing the country and what role should the House play in dealing with it?
One of the most pressing foreign policy challenges facing our country is how global labor and immigration policies intersect with the future of American workers—especially our children. When federal policy prioritizes importing large volumes of skilled labor without first investing in and protecting domestic talent, American students and young professionals are too often pushed out of opportunities they should reasonably be prepared for and eligible to pursue.
Our foreign and economic policies must be aligned to strengthen America from within by investing in education, workforce development, and skill-building for American citizens first, while ensuring that any use of foreign labor complements—not replaces—the development of our own workforce. Protecting opportunity for the next generation is not anti-competition; it’s pro-American future.
How do you view AI and the role the government should play in its regulation?
I view artificial intelligence as a powerful tool that should empower Americans—not replace them. When used responsibly, AI can improve workplace efficiency, reduce dangerous tasks, and help identify fraud, waste, and abuse across both the public and private sectors. The goal should be to enhance human productivity and job satisfaction, not eliminate opportunity.
Government’s role is to set clear, responsible guardrails. That includes holding AI platforms to strict data privacy and security standards to protect users, while also ensuring these technologies do not interfere in elections, suppress speech, or embed ideological or political bias. Innovation should serve the people, strengthen trust, and reinforce democratic integrity—not undermine it.
How would you describe the current state of your party and what changes or new approaches would you like to see your party adopt?
I believe the GOP represents the future of America because, when we communicate clearly and lead with conviction, our platform offers the most practical and family-centered priorities facing the country today. From restoring economic opportunity and public safety to strengthening families, protecting parental rights, and rewarding hard work, these principles speak directly to the challenges American households are living with every day. With cohesive messaging and a focus on real outcomes—not political theater—we can offer families a path forward rooted in stability, opportunity, and common sense.