Get Big Money Out of Politics

Who Gets Heard?

When I first ran for Congress in 2018, I made a big decision: I wouldn’t take any corporate PAC money.

People told me I was crazy. They said I’d never raise enough to compete. And they were mostly right—I didn’t raise as much as the big-name candidates. But something else happened: I got to look every donor in the eye. I got to hear their stories. I got to remember who I was running for.

And it wasn’t corporations.

I believe our democracy works best when regular people have the biggest voice. But right now, that’s not how it works. Big money has too much power. Wealthy donors and corporate PACs flood our elections with cash, hoping to buy influence. And too often, it works.

If you’ve ever wondered why politicians don’t listen to you, this is a big reason why.

I’m running for Congress because I want to change that. I want to help build a democracy that puts people over profits.

Here’s what I believe:

• Candidates should say no to corporate PAC money—so their loyalty stays with the people, not big donors.

• We need campaign finance reform—public matching programs, small-donor incentives, and strict transparency laws.

• We must make it easier for everyday people to run for office, not just the wealthy and well-connected.

That’s not just about fairness. It’s about faith.

Because at its heart, this is a moral issue. Who gets heard? Who gets access? Who matters?

As a pastor, I’ve sat with people going through medical debt, job loss, and housing insecurity. And I’ve seen how decisions made in Washington ripple through real lives. These aren’t just policy debates. They’re choices about who we value.

When lobbyists write the laws, and billionaires fund the campaigns, regular folks get left out. Their stories get ignored. Their needs go unmet.

But it doesn’t have to be that way.

In recent years, we’ve seen candidates win elections with the help of small-dollar donors and grassroots support. We’ve seen movements rise up, powered by teachers, nurses, veterans, and students. People like you.

And here’s what I’ve learned: when we build campaigns around real people instead of corporate checks, something powerful happens. We start talking about what really matters. We start dreaming bigger. We start believing that change is possible.

I don’t have a private jet or a billionaire backing me. But I have something better: a belief that you matter. That your voice, your vote, and your story are worth fighting for.

So I’m running this campaign the way I try to live my life—with honesty, transparency, and a deep commitment to the common good. That means no corporate PAC money. Ever.

Because when regular people come together, we can still beat big money. We can still build something better. And we can still remind our leaders who they really work for.