It’s been an honor to interact with hundreds of you on the phone, at my townhalls, on your doorsteps, and at county events. Before we all head to convention tomorrow, I want to make sure I’ve done everything I can to earn your support. So in an effort to do just that, I’ll answer the most common questions I get everyday:

Who?     Why?      What?     How?

Who?

I grew up in a large family in the farm country of western Weber county. I worked farm jobs and learned to budget as an adolescent.  We did our best with what we had, always tending a big garden that could feed our family while Dad worked multiple jobs and Mom baked bread to help provide.

I put myself through business school at BYU, and I’ve spent my last decade building a career in the private sector, managing data & analytics, and business operations. These are skills that are sorely needed in a dysfunctional and ineffectual congress that continues to delegate its constitutional duties to the executive and judicial branches.

I’m a lifelong Republican, a former state delegate, and current precinct chair in my neighborhood in Riverton.

Why?

My opponent and I are both conservative and both good people. So let me tell you why I'm running against him, and how I think we need to expect more as voters in CD4.

We need a local voice.

A representative’s whole job is to be the voice of their communities. That’s why it bothers me that my opponent hasn’t ever lived inside my district, fundraises ~80% outside of the state, has only held four townhalls, and hasn’t championed local issues. To me, these things demonstrate an exclusive fixation on the shiny DC spotlight over the “unshiny” local issues that matter to us here at home. 

I’m proud to fundraise 65% inside of Utah, and I’ve earned the endorsement of many local leaders who want better engagement with our federal delegation. I’m committed to monthly townhalls, regular meetings with local elected officials, weekly newsletters, and 100% response rates with constituents.

We need substance & leadership.

Politics has become a game where celebrity matters more than substance, and where talking points have replaced real solutions. The DC power structure continues to fight against the Constitution, spend our children into bankruptcy, and fracture our communities through divisive but shallow rhetoric. Times of crisis call for leaders of depth and substance, who know the issues, can answer the tough questions, and have plans to proactively address our nation’s problems. In this regard, I have to admit I don’t believe my opponent meets the mark.

What?

Utah’s priorities are my priorities. As your next congressman, I’m committed to:

1. Cut spending, pass (then balance) a budget, and reduce debt.

We need a proactive leader who will stop supporting flimsy continuing resolutions, call both parties out on their spending, and draft ambitious plans to restructure mandatory spending programs that are suffocating our budgeting process.

2. Champion Utah in the fight against federal lands

Over 60% of our state is managed by the federal government. Public lands is a uniquely Utah issue, and it impacts our ability to manage and fight fires, access critical water resources, strengthen our rural economies, and support our growth. It’s not a shiny cable news topic, but it’s hugely impactful for our state. I will lead this fight in DC on behalf of Utahns.

3. “Keep my soul” in Congress (ie. Congressional Ethics Reform)

We need fighters who aren’t afraid to reform a broken congress, and make sure leaders go and stay for the right reasons, not the wrong ones. This includes pushing for single-issue bills, term limits, campaign finance reform, and shutting down the trade of individual stocks by legislators.

How?

HOW we fight matters just as much as WHAT we win. So I want you to know my philosophy.  Our nation was built on two guiding principles: that individuals grant the government its power (not the other way around), and that states hold the balance of power for rights not enumerated in the Constitution.  

I promise that whenever I vote on a bill or draft legislation in Washington, I will always answer two questions FIRST:

1. Is this constitutional?

2. If so, what level of government should address this issue?

Listen, I know this is a lot for one email. That's why I hope you’ll stop by tomorrow to learn more about my vision for better leadership in CD4. If you do, I believe I can earn your support at convention. 

In the meantime, I hope you’ll visit www.jake4congress.com to learn more.

See you tomorrow!