I grew up in St George and have lived my entire adult life in Utah. I spent my earliest years learning a deep love for spending time outdoors and the importance of family. Always active, I taught myself how to program in middle school and became a small business owner at 15. I spent the remainder of my teenage years exploring the state with my friends, lettering in swimming in high school, and continuing to hone my passion for technology and business.
Following high school, I moved to Salt Lake City to pursue a degree in Computer Science at the University of Utah. Once there, surrounded by new people and ideologies, I quickly found my true passion in the Political Science Department. In the summer of `07, I was fortunate enough to earn an internship in DC with the Center for American Progress via the Hinckley Institute of Politics. While there, I got my first real taste of the government and realized that participating in the political system would be a lifelong endeavor.
After returning home to Utah, I was offered another internship through the Hinckley Institute with Peter Corroon’s County Mayoral race, where I would learn the ins and outs of a campaign from the ground floor. Following that successful campaign, I continued to work on different races and eventually became the President of the Young Democrats of Utah, which was a fantastic experience. I had the chance to work with some of the brightest and most passionate up-and-coming political minds, and together we had some real impact on our local political landscape. Throughout the various campaigns, I built and continued to run my small design agency out of Salt Lake City, learning to balance politics, work, friends, and family.
After the shellacking of the 2010 races, I retired from politics to focus on a full-time career in technology. For the past ten years, I have worked for various tech companies throughout Utah, starting as a junior software engineer and working my way up to the Chief Technology Officer of a multi-million-dollar small business, now mentoring aspiring junior engineers on their path.
Of all my endeavors, I am most proud of raising two beautiful daughters with my wife of eight years. We live in Millcreek alongside our two dogs, Frank and Goose, and our rescued cat, Biscuit. We often explore Utah's fantastic outdoor locations, spend holidays with our family in St. George, and discuss the latest politics with friends while hosting our neighborhood BBQ. I’ve had a lifetime of incredible experiences and adventures. I’m very committed to ensuring my girls have a healthy state and country to continue growing up in.
Today’s politics and politicians have brought out the worst in American society. We need to be able to talk to those we disagree with without resorting to name-calling and the ugliness we see nationally.
With our partisan gerrymandered district, I can represent where I live, my parents in St George, and all the towns and cities in between.
My worry with the current GOP in Utah, they aren’t running on issues but on culture wars. They don’t want to govern but win the nightly spotlight on right-wing media echo chambers. They would use fear to win power versus talking about what matters to the people of Utah.
I want to represent everyone in the district, hear from every community district, and return to regular in-person town halls.
Congress requires an informed advocate to comprehend the impending technology battle encompassing domestic and international affairs. This entails addressing the challenges posed by social media platforms targeting the younger generation and preparing for the imminent wave of artificial intelligence-generated disinformation.
I want to build upon the party's infrastructure and rural outreaches. We’ll run an entire data-driven campaign. Because of the partisan gerrymander, this district and the other districts Democrats cannot win. I believe that this year with the special election and the fact it coincides with the Salt Lake City mayoral race, there is real chance that a Democrat could sneak through. This would be a key investment area for national Dems. A win in this district will deny Kevin McCarthy a vote in an already razor-thin majority. As a state Party, we can work to help the national party and the future of America.