The Fredericksburg Free Press asked candidates for the 7th Congressional District primary election to answer five questions in 250 words or less. The following responses are in the candidate’s own words and have only been lightly edited for length and/or clarity. The primary election is June 18. The general election is Nov. 5.
What was the moment you decided to become involved in politics?
I was devastated by the botched withdrawal in Afghanistan. I lost five of my guys in Afghanistan and to see the 20 years of sacrifices made by service members, their families, and our allies thrown away due to a political decision by Joe Biden, I decided that I would stop yelling at the TV and do something about it. The 7th district is my home, it’s the place that raised me. I grew up working in my mother’s local restaurants and businesses, graduated from Courtland High School, went to Virginia Tech, and became the first person in my family to graduate from college. After serving my country as a Special Forces Green Beret on multiple deployments, including Iraq and Afghanistan, I went to Georgetown Law, graduated, and clerked for two federal judges. It would be an honor to serve my home, the 7th district.
If you were to win the primary, would you broaden your message to appeal to voters outside your own party? If so, how?
Candidates should be running to appeal to all voters during the primary, not pivoting once they make it to the general. I will prioritize securing our border, which in turn will make our communities safer and slow down the deadly flow of fentanyl throughout our communities. I will focus on reducing the cost of living, so that our families are not deciding between which necessities they purchase at the grocery store or the gas pump, and I’ll do this by reducing waste, fraud, and abuse, and over regulation that add to rising costs across all aspects of life. I’ll stand up for our veterans and make sure the VA is as effective as possible, because our veterans deserve the best possible care. These are the issues that matter to all voters, not just primary voters.
The House of Representatives operates at the federal level. What will you do to ensure that the interests of your constituents in the 7th District are well represented?
The 7th district is my home and as such, I will ensure that I always have an open line of communication and discussion with them to ensure that their interests are best represented. Whether it be my mom, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, or friends from elementary to high school, I owe it to the people who grew up with me and raised me to represent them as their “most obedient and most humble servant” (hat tip to George Washington). As the homegrown guy, I will 100% be held accountable for all of my actions as an elected member of Congress.
What is the defining issue of this race?
Securing the border and reducing cost of living.
It’s Jan. 3, 2025. You have been newly inaugurated as part of the new United States Congress. What is your first course of action?
My first course of action will be to get on the committees that give me the greatest opportunity to improve the 7th district: Agriculture, Infrastructure, and Veterans Affairs. Additionally, I will make it my priority to secure the border, which will lead to a decrease in crime, a slowdown in the spread of fentanyl, and a more secure America in the face of our enemies.
