About this response & our editorial approach
About this candidate response
DutyStation contacts candidates to ask whether and how they support service members, military families and veterans, and invites them to share their thoughts and priorities. We share their replies here in the candidate’s or campaign’s own words, with minor formatting for readability and correction of obvious spelling mistakes.
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Organized by topic. Email greetings and sign-offs are omitted; campaign contact details appear alongside.
Government shutdown and cooperation
- I oppose a government shutdown in 2027, and I oppose them at any time. A shutdown is not a negotiating tool. It is a failure of leadership, and the people who pay for it are working families, federal employees, and those who serve our country. There is no reason the government should stop operating while elected officials play games.
- If Democrats win one or both chambers, I will work with the administration and with members of both parties to reach agreements before deadlines, not after the damage starts. I will work for the people of the 8th District, not for a political party. That means coming to the table early, being willing to compromise on process, and refusing to hold essential services hostage over political fights.
- If a shutdown does occur, I will fight to make sure service members, military families, and veterans are protected. I will support legislation that guarantees uninterrupted military pay and keeps benefits, health care, and survivor payments flowing during any funding lapse. Those who serve this country should be a priority, and their benefits should never be subjected to political fighting.
Quality of life
- Childcare and health care are part of my Moses Plan for all people, and that includes military families. Affordable, reliable childcare and access to quality health care should not depend on a family's rank, duty station, or how often they move.
- On pay, I will support compensation that keeps pace with the real cost of living, so no one who serves has to struggle to afford housing, food, and care for their children. On spouse employment, I support spousal support with reasonable limits. Frequent moves make it hard for military spouses to build careers, so I will support practical help such as job placement assistance and easier transfer of professional licenses between states. I will also listen to military families about how moves disrupt schooling, work, and stability, and I will work to reduce that disruption wherever possible.
Veterans’ care
- Veterans earned timely, quality care, and too often they wait too long for it. The Moses Plan includes a quality assurance component that reviews the quality of services for disabled persons, people with mental health needs, and VA participants. The goal is accountability, so we measure wait times, outcomes, and patient experience, and we fix problems instead of tolerating them.
- For mental health, I will push for faster access to counseling and treatment, and for services that reach veterans where they live, including in rural parts of our district. On disability benefits, I will work to reduce claim backlogs and make the process clearer so veterans are not forced to fight for what they have already earned. For the transition to civilian life, I will support stronger job placement, training, and housing support, along with connections to local employers and community organizations, so no veteran is left to figure it out alone.
Family housing
- Military families deserve safe, well-maintained homes, and the contractors and agencies responsible for them must be held accountable. I will support strong oversight of military housing, including regular inspections, transparent reporting of maintenance problems, and real consequences when landlords or contractors ignore unsafe conditions such as mold, lead, or faulty systems. Families should have a clear way to report problems without fear of retaliation.
- More broadly, I will encourage home ownership by making it more affordable. I will support programs that promote solar energy to lower utility costs, and I will push for more block grant subsidies directed to those who are most disadvantaged. Owning a home builds stability and wealth, and that is especially important for military families who have often had to move too many times to put down roots.