Alexander Hazen

Alexander Hazen earned a bachelor's degree from the Rochester Institute of Technology in 2019. His career experience includes working as a software developer.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Hi there! I’m Alex Hazen, a 29-year-old healthcare simulation and video game developer originally from Wilmington, Delaware. I received my Bachelor of Science in (Video) Game Design and Development from the Rochester Institute of Technology, where I learned how to code and develop software. Today I work as a principal software developer on healthcare simulations that help train nurses to save lives. I deeply understand the challenges and opportunities of this new technological era, better than most, and want to help create and shape policies that embrace innovation while protecting our youth, our minds, our privacy, and our future.I’ve spent my entire professional career in Florida and moved to Jacksonville to start a family with my fiancée who is a 4th generation Jacksonvillian. I’m running for Congress because the cost of living and the direction of this country has made the dream of starting and raising a family increasingly harder to reach.I’m not a career politician, I’m not taking money from corporations, and I know it’s important to fight for the everyday people of this district. It's time for Northeast Florida to have a new generation of leadership, one that reflects everyday working people. And I am willing to fight for bold, progressive policies that will help make life more affordable and secure for the working people of this district.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Affordability: Everyday Floridians can’t keep up with rising costs. I support expanding affordable healthcare access, including lowering the Medicare eligibility age. We deserve affordable healthcare for all. I’ll fight for smart infill housing development that doesn’t fuel Florida’s overdevelopment crisis. And I’ll push for real homeowner’s and auto insurance reform, because families in Florida pay for some of the highest premiums in the country while insurers keep raising rates and denying claims.Institutional Reform: Our government no longer represents the people it serves. I support uncapping the House of Representatives so districts reflect actual population growth, term limits to end career politicians, and Supreme Court reforms including term limits for justices and stronger ethics enforcement. I'll fight to get corporate money out of politics and ensure our government is accountable to people, not donors.Tech Regulation: AI and social media are reshaping our society without real oversight. We need more people who understand technology in Congress. I support stronger worker protections so AI is used as a tool, not a replacement for people. I’ll push for common sense federal reforms banning social media’s addictive, deceptive design practices. And I support real oversight of hyperscale AI data centers straining Florida’s grid and water, including usage disclosure and community input before they’re built.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I’m passionate about real policy, not just platitudes and vibes:

Tech Regulation: As someone who builds tech that has a positive impact, I believe we need policies around tech that works for people, not exploits them.

Renewable Energy: Florida is the Sunshine State; we need policies to build solar energy infrastructure.

Medicare for All: Healthcare should be a right, not a luxury for people. We need affordable healthcare for all.

Housing Affordability: We need to encourage more mixed-use housing and walkable communities built on existing infrastructure.

Institutional Reforms: We need to institute term limits so new, fresh ideas come into Congress that reflect the struggles of everyday people, and get rid of corporate money from politics.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Someone I look up to greatly is Ann Jaffe, a family friend, advocate, and educator. She was a Holocaust survivor and community advocate who spoke publicly about her family's experience so that others could learn from it, and she successfully advocated to make Holocaust education part of the curriculum for grades 6-12 in public schools in our community, which taught me that "Never Again" is for all people.

One of the most important lessons she taught was to never yield to the temptation of hate, no matter the circumstances.

She passed away in 2024. I think about her often, especially while campaigning, and about how much the world has changed since her passing. I carry her example with me — in the kindness she showed me and the way she carried herself. Every day I hold onto those teachings in how I treat others.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Integrity, honesty, and authenticity go hand-in-hand: an elected official shouldn't be bought or owned, should stick to their morals, and should be genuinely who they say they are. People are hungry for authenticity in public office. They want to connect with someone real, not a polished performance. This is something that is at the core of our campaign.

Adaptability, attention to detail, and intelligence matter for legislating well. An elected official has to navigate a shifting political landscape and world while understanding existing law and the coalition they're building with.

Courage matters most. A representative should stand up for what's right, no matter the cost, and fight for people even at their own expense.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

To represent the community and fight for legislation that helps the people they serve. To listen, stay available, and connect constituents with the resources they need. To be a leader for all people and to help build a better future.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I want to leave a legacy that says we don't have to accept what people expect of us — that anyone is capable of making a difference, no matter their background. I want to inspire people my age to take the leap into government leadership.

I was told I shouldn't run for U.S. Congress, that because of my age I should stick to running for local office. But I didn't see representation on the national level that looked like me, or representatives prioritizing the issues that are shaping my future.

I won't be quiet while my future, and my generation's future, is on the line. I'm going to fight like hell to make sure we have one.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My first paid job was as a martial arts instructor and after-school teacher at the karate studio where I trained, starting at age fourteen. I held that job for over six years, through high school and into college.

It was there that I learned to lead with honesty, courtesy, integrity, self-control, perseverance, and indomitable spirit. It also gave me an early, close-up view of how hard teaching is, and how hard it is for everyday families to afford childcare in this country.

What do you perceive to be the United States' greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

Our greatest challenge is undoing the damage corporations have done to this country since Citizens United.

It's going to take serious campaign finance reform, and winning enough elections to remove politicians bought by corporate money regardless of party. This country has been taken hostage by the top 1%. Our laws put profits over people. We need to get back to passing laws that help people, not corporations.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Compromise is desirable in policymaking when both sides negotiate in good faith. In today's political climate, that isn't always the case. Policymakers shouldn't compromise their core values just to pass legislation.

Consensus matters more than compromise. Through consensus, we bring everyone to the table to actually solve our country's long-standing problems.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Democratic Progressive Caucus of Florida

Progressives for Democracy in America

50501 Northeast Florida

Florida for Bernie (Grassroots Organization)

Mr. Beat (YouTuber and Educator)

Matthew Grocholoske - President of DPCF

Florida Young Democrats

Katie Chorbek - President of 50501 Vets

Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus

American People's Compact

Democratic Environmental Caucus of Florida