Issues

Affordability is one of the most urgent concerns facing Americans today. Whether it’s the rising cost of housing, groceries, energy, childcare, or healthcare, too many people are working harder than ever and still falling behind. Affordability isn’t just an economic issue, it’s a matter of dignity, stability, and opportunity.

For many, the dream of homeownership feels out of reach, rents are skyrocketing, and even putting food on the table is becoming a struggle. These aren’t luxuries, they are basic needs. That’s why America’s policy agenda must be bold and comprehensive, targeting both cost drivers and barriers to access.

Solutions must include modernized trade deals with our allies to keep essential goods affordable and supply chains resilient. We also need to cut through red tape and reform outdated zoning and permitting laws that slow down housing construction and infrastructure projects. When we promote smart growth, remove artificial bottlenecks, and put people not bureaucracy at the center of policy, we can lower costs and restore the promise of an affordable, secure American life.

Every American deserves healthcare that is both accessible and affordable. Real reform must focus on expanding enrollment and strengthening community-based access to care, especially in underserved and rural areas.

We must also restore decision-making power to physicians, 78% of whom report that insurance companies have too much influence over patient care. It’s time to put trust back where it belongs: in the hands of medical professionals and the patients they serve.

Insurance companies reporting record profit margins should not be allowed to dictate treatment plans for working-class Americans. Healthcare should be driven by compassion and clinical judgment—not by corporate bottom lines.

Education is the foundation of opportunity, and America must ensure it is accessible to all. That means investing in strong public schools, supporting healthy and competitive private institutions, and expanding workforce development programs that help hardworking students earn the degrees and certifications they need for successful, well-paying careers.

We must also preserve academic freedom and promote critical thinking not just to prepare students for jobs, but to prepare them to lead, question, and contribute to a stronger democracy. Education should empower, not indoctrinate.

Teachers deserve the freedom to teach, parents deserve the support to parent, and every community must be committed to the success of its youth. When we invest in learning, we invest in the future of America.

Campaign finance reform is a cornerstone of my platform—because I believe America cannot move forward without confronting the influence of big money in politics. The current system allows dark money and special interests to drown out the voices of everyday Americans, distorting our democracy and eroding public trust.

We the People should be the loudest voice in government, not the wealthiest donors or corporate lobbyists. When political influence is bought and sold, policy no longer serves the public – it serves profit. That’s unacceptable.

It’s time to bring transparency, fairness, and accountability back to our elections. We need a system where candidates are empowered by their communities and not beholden to political machines and backroom money. That’s how we rebuild trust and return power to where it belongs: in the hands of the people.

Government spending is out of control, and my generation is being handed the bill – a $37 trillion national debt that threatens our future. Every dollar added to that debt is a dollar of opportunity stolen from young Americans trying to build lives, careers, and families in an already unstable economy.

Tackling the debt starts with common sense: we must rein in wasteful spending, close unfair tax loopholes that benefit the ultra-wealthy, and make sure every dollar spent delivers real value for the American people. Fiscal responsibility isn’t partisan, it’s patriotic.

At the same time, we can grow our way out of this crisis by investing in infrastructure, expanding workforce development, and modernizing immigration policies to strengthen our labor force and economy. With discipline and vision, we can build a stronger future without burdening the next generation.

The Earth’s climate is changing, driven by both human activity and natural environmental factors. These changes are already impacting our communities, economy, and way of life. Meeting these challenges head-on will require serious, sustained investments in science, technology, and innovation.

We’ve already seen the cost of inaction. In places like Asheville, North Carolina, communities face extreme rebuilding challenges after climate-related disasters. Homeowners, small businesses, insurers, and local governments simply can’t bear the burden alone. The federal government must step up, not just with emergency relief, but with long-term, forward-thinking investments in resilience and sustainability.

That’s why, above all else, we must make smart investments in science, while also tackling our national debt crisis. We can’t afford to ignore climate threats, and we also can’t saddle the next generation with crushing debt. Balancing climate action with fiscal discipline isn’t just possible, it’s essential to building a stronger, safer, and more sustainable future for all Americans.

Government programs, especially subsidies, must be designed to incentivize innovation, not just preserve the status quo. Right now, 9 of the world’s 10 leading research institutions are based in China, a clear signal that America is falling behind in the global race for scientific and technological leadership. New and innovative Institutions must be paramount to the development of our future.

If we want to continue leading the world, the United States must double down on investment in Research and Development, and make innovation a core principle of every public program, from energy to education, from healthcare to defense. Innovation isn’t just a buzzword, it’s a national imperative.

When we support bold ideas and competitive thinking, we unleash the very best of what America stands for: creativity, ingenuity, and progress. By fueling innovation and rewarding forward-thinking solutions, we can secure our economic future and inspire the next generation of American leadership.

America needs immigration—always has, always will. Our strength as a nation has long come from the courage, talent, and determination of those who come here seeking freedom and opportunity. We should be profoundly grateful that the world’s best, brightest, and hardest working people still dream of becoming Americans.

At the same time, the United States must secure its borders and modernize its immigration policies to meet today’s realities. That means creating clear, fair, and efficient legal pathways for those who want to come here, work hard, and contribute to our communities and economy.

Immigration isn’t a problem to be solved—it’s a promise to be managed wisely. When we protect our borders and uphold our values, we build a system that is both secure and humane—one that honors our past and invests in a stronger, more diverse future

The United States is a profound global power and with that power comes great responsibility. We must continue to invest in and promote strong alliances, using diplomacy as our primary tool to deliver real wins for the American people, support healthy global trade, and advance the shared goal of a peaceful and prosperous planet for all.

In an increasingly complex world, our strength is amplified by our partnerships. By honoring our commitments and treating our allies with mutual trust and respect, we reinforce the values that make America a global leader, not just by force, but by example.

When we lead with diplomacy, stability follows. When we lead with integrity, opportunity grows. And when we lead with vision, we make the world safer, not only for Americans, but for future generations everywhere.

Ending unnecessary tax loopholes is critical to restoring fairness and responsibility in our economy. For too long, powerful corporations and ultra-wealthy individuals have taken advantage of a tax code filled with carve-outs, exemptions, and legal tricks paying far less than their fair share while working families shoulder the burden.

This isn’t just a numbers issue, it’s a values issue. When the system rewards wealth over work and complexity over transparency, trust in government erodes, and opportunities dry up for everyday Americans. Teachers, truck drivers, small business owners, and veterans shouldn’t pay a higher effective tax rate than billionaires.

Tax reform must be rooted in fairness and simplicity. That means closing the loopholes that allow tax avoidance, ending the offshoring of corporate profits, and ensuring that capital gains and large inheritances are taxed more equitably. By fixing the tax code, we can invest in public goods like education, infrastructure, and healthcare, tackle the national debt, and finally build an economy that works for everyone, not just the well-connected few.

The conflict-of-interest laws that apply to Congress must be strengthened decisively and without exception. No member of Congress should be allowed to trade individual stocks while in the office. The very notion that lawmakers can profit off the same industries and companies they regulate is a direct threat to democracy and undermines public trust in the legislative process.

Insider trading by elected officials, whether legal under current loopholes or not, is a betrayal of the public’s confidence. Members of Congress are privy to sensitive, market-moving information that ordinary Americans don’t have access to. When lawmakers use that information for personal financial gain, they’re not serving the people they’re serving themselves.

That’s why I support legislation that would require all members of Congress to place their financial holdings into fully blind trusts for the duration of their terms. This is not a radical idea, it’s a basic ethical standard. Public office should be about public service, not personal enrichment. By closing these loopholes and reinforcing clear ethical boundaries, we can take an important step toward restoring integrity, transparency, and fairness in government.