Andrew Wang

Wang attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.[1]

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What would be your top three priorities, if elected?

Protect Our Planet (climate change legislation such as the Green New Deal)

Protect Our People (social welfare and jobs programs, including Medicare for All)

Protect Our Democracy (reforms such as pushing for the end of Super PACs)

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

As a medical receptionist, I particularly care about Medicare for All as I see firsthand the destructive impact of for-profit health insurance companies on patients who desperately need the healthcare they can not afford.

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

I am a personal fan of Senator Bernie Sanders as he has consistently fought for the same issues, even when they were much more unpopular than they are now, and I would credit him for shifting the entire Overton window of American political discourse to the left.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

Thomas Piketty's Capital in the Twenty-First Century

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

An elected official needs to be accountable to the people of their district. That means in a progressive district like Illinois's 10th, the congressman must be a progressive fighter for the people, not a corporatist moderate like Congressman Schneider.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I am incredibly focused and dedicated. The same qualities that made me one of the top quizbowlers in the nation back in high school and college will help me be a dedicated congressman who can listen to his constituents and fight for them in Washington. I am also a very quick learner so I can master the ins and outs of policy in order to articulate the correct legislation that Americans need.

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

The main thing the representative needs to do is show up and fight. Representatives are called just that for a reason - to represent the people. The people want the bold and aggressive changes that the nation needs. The representative should not cast those claims as impractical or impossible. The representative should work to make those changes possible.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I want to do what any American ever wants to do - to leave this country better when I leave than it was when I came. I want to be able to fight for the political revolution with powerful, impactful legislation that can stave off the crises of gross income inequality and the horrors of climate change and to be able to help the Americans as a whole in the process.

What process do you favor for redistricting?

Redistricting should be run by an independent, non-partisan commission.

What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?

The House of Representatives is the most democratic body of the Congress as it is the only one that can be proportionally based on population. As such, we hold a special responsibility to accurately relay the views of our constituents to Washington.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

I do believe it is beneficial to have experience in government, however we should not limit Congress to people with government experience. People from all walks of life with a unique vision and a clear grasp on policy should be able to serve in our government. I believe my status as a medical receptionist and a child of immigrants gives me a unique lens that will aid me as a representative.

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

The United States faces an inner and outer threat. The obvious outer threat is climate change and its disastrous effects, which will wreck havoc within our lifetimes unless we make the radical changes that are necessary. The inner threat is the loom of social warfare caused by gross income inequality by a system that favors the top one tenth of one percent and leaves everyone behind.

Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?

I believe the term length should be longer than two years as representatives now spend most of their time fundraising and campaigning instead of doing the actual work they were sent to do in Washington.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

I believe term limits should be enforced by the voters in a congressional district. That said, there are barriers that prevent true representation as party leadership discourages primary challengers and incumbents are gerrymandered into safe districts. We need to allow for a more open election system and then voters can act as the true term limiters.

If you are not currently a member of your party’s leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives, would you be interested in joining the leadership? If so, in what role?

I would be interested in joining the leadership in any role as long as it does not require me to compromise my progressive views and allows me to have a greater pulpit to speak and organize from.

Is there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Meyer London was a great congressman who worked for progressive change, even when it was unpopular, such as opposing the frankly unconstitutional actions of Woodrow Wilson in the path to World War I. Facing pressures due to his Jewish faith and status as a socialist, London stuck to his convictions and although it ultimately cost him his seat, it made him one of the great unsung heroes of American history.

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What is your political philosophy?

I am running to be the progressive representative that Illinois's 10th Congressional District deserves, running on the three planks of protecting our planet, protecting our people, and protecting our democracy. Amongst the progressive policies I champion that is ignored by the current congressman, Brad Schneider, include Medicare for All and the Green New Deal

[2]

—Andrew Wang[1]

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