Policy
Fighting for a brighter future.
Missouri farmers feed the world, but too many are being squeezed by rising costs and falling prices — not just for grain, but across the board. From soybeans to hogs to dairy, it’s getting harder to break even, especially with trade policy flipping back and forth and key export programs stalled. New technology can help, but only if farmers have the right to repair their own equipment and the infrastructure to compete. I believe in smart trade, not bailouts — and policies that put small and family-run farms first. With the right support, rural America can thrive again.
North Missouri needs energy that’s reliable, affordable, and built for the long haul. Projects like the Grain Belt Express offer exactly that — stable, low-cost power delivered to dozens of Missouri communities while strengthening our grid against blackouts and extreme weather. We should be investing in infrastructure that keeps the lights on and the bills low, not blocking progress for short-term politics. Long-term resilience means planning ahead — and saying yes to smart energy solutions.
The U.S. Postal Service is a service — not a profit machine. Just like we do not ask if the military turns a profit, we should not gut the Postal Service for failing to make one. For decades, there has been a push to privatize it, which would slash rural delivery and abandon millions of Americans. The Postal Service is part of our national identity — affordable, reliable mail should be protected, not sold off.
One in five Missourians rely on Medicaid, yet Congress is pushing cuts that would gut rural care while offering trillions in tax breaks to the wealthy. In parts of the 6th District, families already drive over an hour just to reach a delivery room — and some rural hospitals are on the brink of closing for good. We need to strengthen Medicaid, not slash it, and invest in rural healthcare so families can grow and age in the communities they love. Healthcare access shouldn’t depend on your ZIP code.
Missourians deserve sovereignty over their own bodies — plain and simple. But career politicians in Jefferson City and Washington, D.C. are working to overturn the clear will of the people. Our current representative seems to think he knows better than the voters he’s supposed to serve. I trust Missourians to make personal decisions for themselves — not the government.
Climate change is real, and Missouri is already feeling it — hotter summers, more extreme winters, and stronger winds. Whether you believe in climate change or not, the reality on the ground calls for a smarter approach. As a builder, I know it’s cheaper in the long run to build things right the first time. The same goes for environmental policy: resilient communities start with long-term thinking, not short-term fixes.
Tariffs have become a political tool, but too often it’s working families — not foreign governments — who pay the price. Today’s shoot-from-the-hip arbitrary tariffs and the growing trade war means American farmers and consumers keep getting caught in the crossfire. Meanwhile, household debt just hit a record $17.3 trillion, and billionaires still enjoy tax breaks and subsidies. It’s time Congress stopped protecting the powerful and started investing in the people.
Northern Missouri’s economy starts with agriculture, but our farmers are being squeezed by monopolies and rising costs. I’ll fight to protect family farms, expand access to markets, and support sustainable practices like soil health, water conservation, and ag-tech innovation. Investing in long-term stewardship of the land isn’t just good policy—it’s how we secure the future of farming for the next generation.
Small businesses are the backbone of Northern Missouri’s economy, but too often they’re left behind while billion-dollar corporations get tax breaks and bailouts. I’ll fight to expand access to affordable healthcare, capital, and federal contracts for local businesses. It’s time we level the playing field and invest in the people actually building our communities.
Rural infrastructure has been neglected for too long—roads, bridges, water systems, and flood control need urgent investment. I’ll fight for federal funding that reaches rural towns, not just urban centers, and supports the basics that families and small businesses rely on. Infrastructure is how we grow local economies and protect communities for the long haul.
High-speed internet is essential for farms, schools, small businesses, and healthcare in Northern Missouri. We need to fully fund rural broadband expansion and explore all options—from traditional fiber and cable to satellite and wireless solutions—so every home and town gets connected. This investment must prioritize unserved areas, not just pad profits for major telecoms.
Everyone deserves to live freely and equally — no exceptions. I believe in a government that protects rights, not one that polices personal lives. Who someone loves or how they identify is none of the government’s business, and it certainly shouldn’t be a political weapon. I will always stand for equal protection under the law, and against any attempt to use power to divide, discriminate, or interfere in people’s private lives.
I support and appreciate the Second Amendment because it works to keep tyrants at bay. However, guns are now the leading cause of death for children in Missouri — that’s not politics, that’s reality. Public safety should be a basic right, and we can protect it without trampling anyone’s Second Amendment freedoms. That means requiring background checks on gun sales, encouraging safe storage, and documenting gun transactions. We document car sales and house sales – it just makes sense to keep a basic record when a deadly weapon changes hands. Responsible gun ownership is part of our culture — and common sense reforms help keep it that way.
I believe the Draft should include all able bodied Men & Women.
Unions built the backbone of America’s middle class — they gave us weekends, child labor laws, the 40-hour workweek, and workplace safety standards. I’m proudly pro-union because workers deserve a real voice, fair wages, and the freedom to organize without interference. Today, federal actions are chipping away at labor rights, gutting contracts, and making it harder for workers — including federal employees — to unionize.
At the same time, unstable tariff policy is hitting trades and small contractors hard, driving up material costs in the middle of projects and threatening their ability to stay profitable. If we’re serious about rebuilding American industry and protecting working families, we need to strengthen unions — not undercut them.
On January 6, 2021 slates of fake electors were forged in an attempt to overthrow the Federal government and hand the 2020 election to Donald Trump. Sam Graves assisted in the scheme by voting against certifying the election, he voted against impeaching Trump over the failed insurrection, and he voted against investigating the event.
I support term limits for politicians. I am an architect, and being a politician is not what I plan to do for the rest of my career. Career politicians who spend decades in office become detached from the reality the rest of us face every day.