Democrat
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Sourced verbatim from the candidate's website.
I graduated from Western Governor's University in 2017 with a Bachelors of Science in Software Development. That career has catapulted me into working on some large insurance software programs at AAA where I met my wife, to building out multi-billion dollar software solutions in the investment/derivative space at my current employer. I have worked in-between those in the manufacturing and aerospace sectors, and with consumer products and medical services for a time building web apps. My career in software development has given me a unique perspective. I have seen how corporations operate, some of the worst and some of the best. I know the type of loopholes and language they exploit. I have years of experience helping corporations build their economic futures. Let me help build yours, too! Now, I wasn't always a programmer writing critical system logic. My first job was a bagger and cart collector at a local grocery store (they called us courtesy clerks). My second was at Best Buy. My third job was a dog bather at Petsmart (that was hard, tip your groomers man!).
I have never forgotten where I have come from: 5th generation Irish immigrant, son of a farmer and factory worker who became insurance salespeople and flight attendant, have had family who served in WW2, Vietnam, Cold, Gulf, and modern wars: I am proud to be American, and I will never forget the sacrifices of those who built the world we know today. I have had years where I had no health care, we were one of those unfortunate families who lost their homes in the 2008 Housing Crisis, and I have seen family members sell property to pay for medical care/debt; I have seen the cracks in the system, ones we must fill so that the rising tide of a booming American economy might lift all ships. The benefit of my technological and programming experience is that I can put my money where my mouth is and actually demonstrate our elected officials insane lack of understanding of the digital world and the insane risk that places us all under. We can build policies and plans for the 21st Century, not just what worked post-WW2 or what some party pushes. Real solutions for working people, centered around safeguarding Americans from the offenses of corporations or government overreach.
Data from the FEC. 2026 cycle.
Sourced verbatim from the candidate's website.
With the passage of the HR 1 Bill (You know it as One Big Beautiful Bill, but we call it the Death Bill), Healthcare is at massive risk in multiple counties in the Ninth. 2 rural hospitals in the district are guaranteed to start closing by Jan 01, 2027. The CEO of Ballad Health is directly quoted as saying the bill as passed will "lead to the closure of rural hospitals." This is because of the trillion dollar Medicaid cuts and cuts to its funding sources throughout the United States. Ballad Health Lee County Community Hospital and Carilion Tazewell Community Hospital are the two that will close if we don't do something about this! Unless swift action is taken, thousands of Virginians will have to travel hundreds of miles to get critical care. There will be many who can't do that.
Across the nation, families are feeling the squeeze. The cost of everyday necessities such as groceries, gasoline, housing, and healthcare is rising faster than wages, leaving many struggling to make ends meet. It's impacting the ability of hardworking Americans to provide for their families, pursue their dreams, and maintain a reasonable standard of living. The cumulative effect of these increases has created a significant burden on households. Reports have 57-65% of Americans as living paycheck to paycheck. Home prices in SWVA have been rising, especially along the I-81 corridor, making it harder for some long-time residents to afford homes. Rent increases are also contributing to the problem, with some renters seeing significant jumps in their monthly payments. Many families have to spend a significant portion of their income on their energy or power bill. Many counties of the 9th have had massive rent increases over the last decade. From 2011 (Morgan's first year in office) to 2021, rent alone was up around 30-40% in many counties, over the Virginia average of 24%. Since 2021, there have been only been more increases to cost of renting due to COVID and inflation. Since 2010, housing costs have increased nearly 50%.
For decades, the Blue Ridge Job Center in Marion has been a vital resource for Southwest Virginia workers. It's been a place to find employment, receive job training, and access crucial support services. But now, that lifeline is being cut. The Blue Ridge Job Center, along with others in the region, is closing, leaving thousands of Virginians facing an uncertain future. The Blue Ridge Job Center is currently in limbo, with Congressionally appointed funds holding the Center open at least through Jun 30, 2026, but the Trump admin is attempting to close it now. Around 90 students currently attend the Job Center. The closure would eliminate 70 jobs directly related to the Job Center's operations. The nearest alternative Job Center is located in Bristol, TN, a significant distance for many residents, particularly those without reliable transportation. The closure exacerbates existing economic challenges in a region already struggling with high unemployment and poverty rates relative to the rest of the nation. The decision to close these Job Centers was made with limited public input and a lack of transparency regarding the rationale behind the closure. It was also an illegal attempt by the federal government to move Congressionally appropriated funds to dark slush funds like ICE, which exceeded its yearly budget by a billon within 5 months.
While Corporate profits doubled under Griffith's watch, real Americans of SWVA have had to make due with less. 2010 Median Household Income (9th District): $45,000 (estimate, still looking for the exact data) 2024 Median Household Income (9th District): $53,640 (slight increase, but not keeping pace with rising costs) 2010 Corporate Profits (Virginia): Approximately $50 - $60 billion (estimate based on BEA data). 2024 Corporate Profits (Virginia): Approximately $90 - $110 billion (estimate based on BEA data). Corporate Profit Growth: Roughly 80-100% increase. 2010 Average Weekly Wage (Production/Nonsupervisory): Approximately $650 - $700 (estimate based on BLS data for similar occupations in the region). 2024 Average Weekly Wage (Production/Nonsupervisory): Approximately $750 - $850 (estimate based on BLS data and inflation adjustments). Real Wage Growth (Adjusted for Inflation): Using the CPI inflation calculator, the real wage growth is roughly 1-3% over that 15 year timeline. That means the 20% increase in worker wages have been cannibalized by inflation and cost of living increases.
