What Makes Me Qualified
My friends, I am not just an attorney. I am a son. I am a father. I am a husband. I am a public defender, and I spend my days ensuring that the Sixth Amendment right to counsel is a reality for everyone. I am a proud graduate of the University of Oklahoma College of Law, where I spent years reading laws and legal documents, parsing their meaning, and spotting issues, risks, and hidden consequences. I love what I do. It’s exhilarating, energizing, and rewarding. I get to fight for what I believe in every day, stand up for individuals in our communities, and advocate for the humanity of our neighbors.
As a public defender, I fight every single day I walk into a courtroom. I don’t do it for the money because public defenders don’t make that much. I don’t do it for prestige or for the thrill of victory. I do it for justice. I do it for the satisfaction of knowing that I am serving others and defending the Constitution. As a public defender, it is my public duty to hold a special understanding of the rule of law and the Constitution.
To that end, yes, I am one of those nerds who has read the United States Constitution. To save you the time, let’s quickly review Article I of the Constitution. In short, Article I regulates and governs the United States Congress. Congress has some exclusive powers: to impose taxes, to build the interstate highway system, to declare war, to sign treaties on behalf of the U.S., to borrow and incur debt, and to create and dismantle agencies. Anything listed here belongs ONLY to the United States Congress and is NOT in the realm of the United States President. If my future colleagues forget, you can bet I’ll remind them because, in true lawyer fashion, I know what it means to zealously advocate for an outcome without abandoning due process.
My career as a public defender has taught me many things and continues to teach me something new every single day. I’ve learned how to defend a position vigorously; I am not averse to working with the other side, and I am not afraid of public speaking—I can thank the many hours I spend in court arguing before a jury for that one. So I can promise you that when the time comes, I will fight in the best interests of Oklahomans, for those who face everyday struggles and feel the rising costs. Why? Because I know what it’s like.
When I got out of the Army, I put myself through law school while raising four children, with our fifth on the way, and my wife quit her job. Still, we had to make ends meet. I come from a family that understands what it is like to overcome obstacles. As the fourth of nine children raised by a single mother, I saw firsthand what it means to be resilient. My mom is a fighter. She taught me what perseverance and sacrifice are, and what it’s like to move forward despite the odds working against you at any given moment. She taught me how to fight, and that is exactly what I will do in Washington. Stand up to the billionaires and far-right extremists who are hoarding wealth for themselves and stripping our most fundamental rights. That is the fight I know.
Recently, our oldest son was kicked off our health insurance plan. We struggle and worry about what will happen if he’s ever in need of life-saving care. Too many Americans know this feeling. If you didn’t know, the premium tax credit for the Affordable Care Act expired on December 31 of 2025; as a result, too many Americans are going without health insurance. This matters because people deserve high-quality, affordable healthcare, and no one, including insurance companies, should take that away. That is why this issue matters so much.
As you decide which fighter you are sending into the general election, think about voting for someone who knows how to fight when the facts, the law, and the system are against them. Think about voting for someone who understands big family economics. Vote for someone ready to bring the same zeal used in the courtroom to Washington. If you are ready to vote for the only candidate in this race who feels what you feel and knows what you are going through in this economy, then my friends, I ask you to lock in your support before June 16. If you haven’t, mail your absentee ballot back to ensure your county election board receives it. If you plan to vote in person, early voting begins from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm on Thursday, June 11, and Friday, June 12. The final day of early voting is Saturday, June 13, from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm. Whatever you choose, make your plan now.
If you already voted, thank you for being a voter!
