Values

In a state where the vast majority of voters are registered as independents, Coloradans are forced to choose between two options that rarely share their values. Joe is an Independent who believes in protecting the working-class from oligarchs, balancing our budget by taxing the elite, and expanding human rights without exception. We will move forward, but not while the Democrats and Republicans are owned by Facebook, Amazon, or Israel. Let’s Demand Better of our politicians and protect the Colorado way-of-life for the next generation.

Reform Our Politics

The system is failing us, and we all feel it. For too long, career politicians have treated the federal government like a game to be won instead of a public service. We have to reform our politics and get our representatives working for the people before meaningful change can happen.

money out of politics

The way we fund elections in this country is upside down. Over $14 billion was spent in the 2024 elections. We need to roll back the rules that let massive companies, lobbyists, and the ultra-wealthy drown out the voices of regular people. Our democracy shouldn’t be for sale to the highest bidder and that’s why I’m drawing a hard line: I won’t take a dime from corporate PACs, and I believe if you’re elected to Congress, you have no business playing the stock market while you’re there. Congress shouldn’t be a place to get rich, it should be a place to fight for working people. The DISCLOSE Act should be passed and we need to ban stock trading while in office.

Age & Term Limits

We know that if you stay in one spot for too long, complacency sets in. Congress has an approval rating of below 20% yet incumbents are re-elected around 90% of the time. Public service was never meant to be a lifetime gig or a way to spend your retirement. I’m a firm believer that we need limits on how long anyone can sit in Congress or on the Supreme Court. We need fresh energy and people who actually intend to come back home and live under the laws they helped pass. I will personally be signing the Voluntary Term Limits Declaration and pledge to limit my time in Congress to no more than three terms.

Ranked Choice Voting

The two-party system has a stranglehold on our politics, and it’s keeping us stuck in the same old ruts. We need to update the way we vote so that whoever wins actually has the support of the majority. This isn’t about picking sides, it’s about making sure independent and common-sense voices can compete without being told they’re just “splitting the vote.” It’s time for a system that rewards ideas instead of just partisan loyalty.

VOTER RIGHTS

We should be encouraging and enabling every citizen to vote in our elections, not putting red tape in the way. This is democracy, and this is America. Congress should pass the Freedom to Vote Act and enshrine election day as a national holiday to reduce the burden on voters.

Protect Our Freedoms

The Bill of Rights isn’t just a list of old suggestions; it’s a shield designed to keep the government out of your private life. These rights are the foundation of how we live here in Colorado, and frankly, they’re being squeezed by both parties. These rights aren’t partisan bargaining chips; they are the bedrock of a society that treats every person with dignity. In the 7th District, we value our independence, and I’ll make sure the government respects yours.

The Bill of Rights

As an independent in the House, I will fiercely defend the entire Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Each of us is endowed with unalienable rights that are not up for debate. That includes the right to say what you think, worship how you choose, and look your government in the eye to demand change. We must protect the right to disagree without fear, and we’ve got to get back to a place where news is about information, not entertainment.

In Colorado, we respect the right to own firearms for self-defense and sport, but we also expect the common-sense transparency required to keep our schools and streets safe. It’s time to move past the partisan shouting matches and focus on responsible ownership and mental health investments that prioritize our neighbors over the interests of lobbyists.

We also know that the government has no business in your private life. Whether it’s your home, your data, or what happens in your bedroom or doctor’s office, your business is your own. You have the right to privacy.

The rule of law only works if it applies to everyone equally. Due process is not an optional technicality, it’s a requirement. No matter who you are, if you’re here in America you get Due Process and the rights provided by the Constitution. We don’t cut corners on the Constitution.

Secure Our Future

There is an unwritten rule in Colorado that you leave things better than you found them. But right now, Washington is more focused on the next election cycle than the next generation. We have a personal responsibility to clean up the mess and stop passing our problems down to our kids. It’s time we start building for the next generation instead of just the next election. And it starts with ensuring everyone pays their fair share.

Housing & Affordability

The average age of the first time home-buyer just surpassed 40 years old, an all time high. When our kids can’t afford to buy a home in the same cities where they grew up, something is fundamentally broken. We need to stop the red tape that’s driving up construction costs and start incentivizing smart, local development. Putting a roof over your head shouldn’t feel like an impossible task for a young family trying to build a life here.

HEALTHCARE

No American should hesitate to call an ambulance or be scared to go to their doctor because of the financial implications. One side yells for affordable healthcare while the other says free, but nothing changes. We need to bring down the costs for working families. Instead of listening to the insurance lobbyists, its time to listen to the people and create a single-payer healthcare plan.

Energy Independence & The Environment

Energy prices are hitting Colorado families hard because we’ve spent too much time engineering scarcity instead of building for abundance. We have the resources, the talent, and the opportunity right here at home to lead the way. We should be building so much clean, domestic energy that prices are affordable, the environment is cleaner, and oil wars are a thing of the past. No American should be left cold because of the cost of energy.

Fiscal Responsibility

With the national deficit hitting record highs every year – now nearing $40 trillion – we are mortgaging our children’s future. It’s a massive bill we are passing on to our children because politicians in Washington refuse to make tough choices. We gave trickle-down economics an honest run, and it’s clear that it doesn’t work. It’s time for a common-sense approach that balances the books and ensures the wealthy elites and corporations finally pay their fair share, so our kids aren’t born into a deficit they can’t escape.

Education & Opportunity

It shouldn’t matter what your zip code is; every kid in Colorado deserves a top-notch education. That starts by getting the politics out of our classrooms and getting back to the basics of learning. We need to make teaching a desirable, competitive profession again and ensure our educators are well-paid and respected so that every student has a clear pathway to a good-paying job without having to leave the state to find one.

Safety & Security

The rule of law is foundational to the American way of life. This means that no one is above the law and no one falls through the cracks of a broken system. It means secure borders, accurate elections, and that no one’s Constitutional Rights are overlooked. And it also means that our law enforcement officers shouldn’t be forced to pull double or triple duty as therapists, addiction specialists, and mental health workers; they need the right tools and support to keep our streets safe.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

We cannot make the same mistakes with AI that we did with social media. We failed an entire generation because Washington did not act and instead let technology oligarchs control the narrative. AI requires smart and fast regulation to keep us safe, but we cannot just ban it and fall behind. We need restrictions on artificial content, protections for our personal data, and regulations that ensure AI companies are treating this powerful technology with care.

BITCOIN & CRYPTOCURRENCY

We want America to be at the forefront of digital currencies, but this requires clear regulation to ensure consumers are safe and scams are prevented. Congress should pass the CLARITY Act, The American Reserves Modernization Act (ARMA), and The Virtual Currency Tax Fairness Act to maintain our innovative advantage in the space.