Arthur Dixon

Arthur Dixon was born in Chicago, Illinois. He earned a high school diploma from Pine Tree High School and attended American University in Washington D.C. and Harvard Extension School. His professional experience includes working as a community organizer, in nonprofit advocacy, in political organizing, and as a dishwasher. He has been affiliated with the Sunrise Movement, Rescuing Leftover Cuisine, Environment California, CALPIRG, and LA Tenant Rights.[1][2]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am Arthur Dixon, a formerly homeless organizer now running for Congress in California's 34th District. I grew up experiencing firsthand the struggles of poverty, housing instability, and economic injustice. I know what it's like to live out of a car, to wonder where the next meal will come from, and to fight every day just to survive. Those experiences drive me to fight for a future where survival is not a privilege reserved for the wealthy, but a guaranteed right for every American. My campaign is 100% people-powered, no corporate PAC money, no billionaire donors. I'm running to pass Universal Basic Income to end poverty, guarantee affordable housing for all, create millions of good-paying jobs with a Green New Deal, ensure free healthcare as a human right, and make public education free from kindergarten through community college. This campaign is about giving power back to the people. It's about dignity, opportunity, and a future where no one is left behind. I'm not running to climb the political ladder, I'm running because too many of us have been failed by a broken system, and it's time to change it together.

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?

I believe that Universal Basic Income is the foundation for true freedom and dignity. Every American deserves the security of knowing they can afford food, housing, and the basics of life not just the wealthy few. In Congress, I will fight to pass legislation that provides every adult with a guaranteed monthly income, empowering individuals to live with dignity, invest in their futures, and strengthen their communities. No one should have to choose between paying rent or buying groceries. Economic freedom is human freedom.Housing is a human right, not a luxury. I am running for Congress to pass bold affordable housing initiatives, expand rent relief, and ensure that no family is forced into homelessness due to skyrocketing rents and corporate greed. I know firsthand what it feels like to lose your home, and I will never stop fighting until every American has a safe, affordable place to live. Our communities thrive when our people are secure. It's time to treat housing like the essential need it is, not a speculative asset for the wealthy.Climate change is the greatest challenge of our generation — but it’s also our greatest opportunity to rebuild America for the better. I will fight to pass a Green New Deal that creates millions of good union jobs in clean energy, public transit, sustainable housing, and climate resilience. We can power our economy with renewable energy, restore our communities, and ensure a livable planet for future generations. This is about survival, and about building a thriving, just future for all of us

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am deeply passionate about fighting poverty through Universal Basic Income, guaranteeing affordable housing as a human right, passing a Green New Deal to combat climate change and create millions of new jobs, expanding healthcare into a free, universal system, and investing in free public education from kindergarten through community college. These issues aren't abstract to me, I lived the consequences of a broken system. I am committed to building an economy and a democracy that serve working people, not billionaires.

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

I look up to Barack Obama. He came from humble beginnings, organized at the grassroots level, and proved that intelligence, calm under pressure, and compassion could inspire millions. His ability to communicate hope while navigating difficult policy battles is something I deeply admire. I also admire the way he carried himself with dignity through relentless opposition.

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

If you want to understand how I think and why I’m running, read The Ragged-Trousered Philanthropists by Robert Tressell. It's about working people who keep the system running but are constantly pushed aside and ignored. That book, along with Evicted by Matthew Desmond, shows what people go through just trying to survive in this country. I’d also recommend watching the Pursuit of Happyness. That film hits hard when you’ve lived it. I was homeless myself, and that fight to keep going even when you have nothing is the fire behind my campaign.

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

An elected official must embody integrity, courage, and loyalty to the people not special interests. They must be willing to risk comfort and career for justice, listen with empathy, speak hard truths, and fight for those without a voice. I believe in radical transparency, people-powered leadership, and never forgetting where I came from. I was homeless just a few years ago, now I'm running for Congress to fight for those still living that reality. Compassion without action is hollow. Action without humility is dangerous. We need both.

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

Resilience. I’ve been homeless, jobless, and heartbroken, and I’ve still shown up for people. I have lived the struggles I’m fighting to solve. I’m a clear communicator, a community builder, and I don’t quit. I also have vision, and I know how to organize, mobilize, and lead people through hard times toward real progress.

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

A representative’s first responsibility is to serve not to perform, not to fundraise, not to protect the status quo. That means showing up for the people, listening deeply, and fighting relentlessly for policies that improve their lives. It means being accessible, transparent, and unafraid to challenge powerful interests. A member of Congress must write and vote on legislation rooted in justice and equity, secure resources for their district, and hold institutions accountable when they fail the people. Most importantly, they must lead with courage, especially when it’s unpopular.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I want to be remembered as someone who gave working people real power again. I want my campaign to be a spark... something that reminded people they’re not alone, and they deserve more than just survival. I want to leave behind a more equal Los Angeles, and a blueprint for other ordinary people to rise up and reshape their cities, states, and country.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

The first historical event I remember vividly was 9/11. I was in elementary school. I didn’t fully grasp the politics, but I remember the silence, the fear, the way the adults around me stopped everything. I remember my mom crying. It shaped the way I saw the world, how fragile peace is, how deeply decisions made in Washington affect real people’s lives.

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

My first job was washing dishes in the kitchen of a nursing home alongside my mom. I was just a teenager, but I worked nights and weekends to help her pay the bills. That experience grounded me in the reality so many families face... working multiple jobs just to survive. It taught me humility, grit, and the value of caring for our elders. I kept that job for over a year, and I’ve never forgotten where I came from or who I’m fighting for.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Red Rising by Pierce Brown. It’s about a man who rises from the lowest caste of society to challenge an unjust system built on hierarchy and violence. It’s more than science fiction, it’s a story about transformation, leadership, and fighting for a better world. It reminded me of my own mission: to rise and bring others with me.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

I’d be Darrow from Red Rising. He was underestimated, betrayed, and broken, but he became a symbol of rebellion and hope. He turned his pain into power and used it to tear down injustice from the inside out. That’s exactly what I’m trying to do

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

A Change Is Gonna Come’ by Sam Cooke. That song has lived in my bones for years, but lately it’s been echoing louder. It’s more than just music, it’s a promise. A reminder that pain has a purpose, that struggle has rhythm, and that change is not only coming, it’s being demanded by those of us who’ve been left behind for too long. It reflects everything this campaign stands for: hope, justice, and the fight to finally be seen.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Homelessness. I’ve slept on the street, in cars and on couches while working multiple jobs just trying to get back on my feet. I’ve dealt with betrayal, abandonment, and the mental toll of being treated like I didn’t matter. But those moments built me. They gave me the fire to fight for those who are ignored and forgotten. That struggle is why I’m running.

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

The House is the most immediate voice of the people. It reflects the struggles, hopes, and demands of everyday Americans in real time. Because representatives face reelection every two years, we are constantly accountable to the people we serve. The House holds the power of the purse and is often where urgent legislation begins. It is built to be responsive, fast-moving, and deeply connected to grassroots movements. This is where real change can start and that is exactly why I am running.

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

It can be helpful, but it’s not required. What matters most is integrity, courage, and a deep connection to the struggles of everyday people. Some of the most transformative leaders in our history came from outside traditional politics. We need more working-class voices, more people who’ve been through real hardship, who understand rent stress, job insecurity, and broken systems firsthand. Experience matters but lived experience matters more.

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

The greatest challenge we face is economic inequality that continues to grow while working people fall further behind. Wages are not keeping up with the cost of living and millions of Americans are one emergency away from homelessness. Climate change is also an existential threat and demands urgent action to protect our planet and communities. Finally, we must address the crisis of political disconnection where people feel like the government no longer represents them. Restoring trust in our democracy means putting power back in the hands of everyday people.

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

Two years is a short window, but it forces representatives to stay connected to their constituents. It keeps us accountable and grounded in the people’s needs. That said, the constant campaign cycle can distract from real policy work. If we had stronger campaign finance laws and public financing, the two-year term could work better. Until then, it’s a double-edged sword.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

I believe in term limits because power should never become permanent. When someone stays in office too long, they often lose touch with the people they serve. Fresh ideas, younger voices, and new energy are essential to a healthy democracy. Term limits can help reduce corruption, stop career politicians from coasting, and open the door for more working-class people to run for office. No one should see public office as a lifelong job, it’s a temporary responsibility to serve.

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

Barack Obama is someone I deeply admire, not just for his intellect and calm under pressure, but for the way he inspired millions to believe in hope and change. He rose from community organizing to the presidency, never forgetting where he came from. His ability to communicate across divides, build coalitions, and carry himself with integrity shaped my belief that politics can still be a force for good. I aim to lead with that same level of discipline, vision, and connection to everyday people.

Both sitting representatives and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

One story that has stayed with me was from a young woman I met in Koreatown who had been working full-time while sleeping in her car. Despite doing everything “right,” she couldn’t afford rent and was denied housing repeatedly because of her credit. She cried telling me how exhausted she was, how invisible she felt. That moment reminded me of my own time being unhoused. It made clear that our systems are broken, and that we need leaders who not only hear these stories, but live them, fight for them, and deliver real, material change.

Tell us your favorite joke.

Why did the progressive refuse to play hide and seek?

Because good policies shouldn’t be hidden.

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

Compromise can be necessary to move legislation forward, but it should never come at the expense of working people. I’m not running to make backroom deals or settle for crumbs. I’m running to push for bold progressive change. If compromise means abandoning universal basic income, universal healthcare, housing, or climate justice, then it’s not real progress. I will work with anyone if it means delivering real results for my district, but I won't trade away our values just to say a bill passed. We push. We fight. We win together.

The Constitution says that all bills for raising revenue must originate in the House. What role would this power play in your priorities if elected?

If elected, I would use this constitutional power to make the House the driver of bold economic change. We have the authority to introduce legislation that directly impacts how wealth is distributed in this country. That means fighting for a federal Universal Basic Income, expanding tax credits for working families, and closing loopholes exploited by the ultra-wealthy and corporations. We can use this power to fully fund housing, healthcare, education, and climate action—not through austerity, but through justice. The House must lead the charge in rewriting the rules of our economy to serve everyday people.

How should the U.S. House use its investigative powers?

The U.S. House should use its investigative powers to hold power accountable, whether it’s corporate greed, government corruption, or abuses of authority. These powers are essential for exposing the truth and protecting democracy. That means investigating price gouging, environmental destruction, political interference, and systemic failures that hurt working people. Oversight should never be performative or partisan, it should be about justice, transparency, and restoring public trust. If elected, I would support aggressive, fact-driven investigations that defend the people, not the powerful.

What committees interest you?

I'm most interested in serving on the Ways and Means, Appropriations, Energy and Commerce, and Science, Space, and Technology Committees. Each of these committees directly impacts the lives of working people in my district. Through Ways and Means, I would fight for a universal basic income, tax reform that favors everyday Americans, and strong social programs like Medicare. On Appropriations, I would work to bring federal dollars back home, funding affordable housing, local schools, green jobs, and infrastructure. Energy and Commerce would allow me to push clean energy policy and modernize our grid while holding corporations accountable for pollution. And with Science and Space, I want to make sure underserved communities have access to the economic opportunities of the future, in STEM, clean tech, and even the aerospace sector.

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

If we want people to trust government again, we need full transparency. That means making sure voters know where every dollar is coming from and where every dollar is going. No backroom deals. No hiding behind legal loopholes. Elected officials work for the people, not special interests. I support public financing of campaigns, full disclosure of political donations, and strict enforcement against corruption. If someone is caught abusing their position, they should be removed and face real consequences. Period.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

At 25 years old I decided to run for office because after 30 years of the same representation I had to ask myself “who have things really been changing for?” After 30 years of having the same representative, “Why is the poverty rate in my district still rising?” “Why is the food insecurity rate 47% higher than the national average?” “Why aren’t people's lives getting better?”, and from that point on I decided to run for congress and dedicate my life to fighting for BOLD PROGRESSIVE CHANGE!

I decided to run because I know the struggles of the people of my district because I've lived them, and I'm willing to fight to make a REAL CHANGE!

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?

The biggest challenges our district faces are poverty and job insecurity. Almost 30% of my district lives below the poverty line while our food insecurity rate is 47% higher than the national average. Not only that but we’re also facing a huge labor crisis. 30% of all stores and malls are closing because of companies like Amazon while simultaneously they pay $0 in taxes and automate away all of their jobs. The ONLY policy that directly solves the poverty and job insecurity crisis our district and nation as a whole faces is a Universal Basic Income. We have the ability to directly lift over 200,000 people out of poverty and completely eliminate homelessness just right here in our district. It just takes political courage!The #1 policy to promote public health and economic recovery is a Universal Basic Income. It is the only policy that directly lifts millions of people out of poverty. A Universal Basic Income of $1,000 a month will have a trickle up economic effect. Millions of people will be buying more goods, paying for more services, and ultimately putting more money directly into the economy. Every year the United States Government spends almost one trillion dollars a year on the military industrial complex, another one hundred billion on different forms of foreign aid, and half a trillion on current social programs. We have the capacity to invest directly into the American people, it just takes political courage.As we saw last year during the winter storm when over 200 people died in Texas and millions of others lost power, we have an extremely weak and vulnerable power grid. Most of that was due to companies that provide natural gas to our power grids not being able to handle the cold weather. This proves that climate change is having a direct impact on our energy infrastructure and we must do everything we can to transition over to renewable energy. That starts with passing the Green New Deal and prioritizing transferring over to clean energy.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Social Warfare, Environment, Space, Science & Technology,

Campaign website

Dixon's campaign website stated the following:

UNIVERSAL BASIC INCOME

America is at the forefront of an unprecedented crisis. In the next 12 years 1 out of 3 people will lose their job to new technologies. During the pandemic over 40 million people lost their jobs due to circumstances out of their control. It’s time for change!

We came together as a nation and provided every citizen with a stimulus check during the pandemic. The stimulus checks not only stimulated our economy, but sparked an economic movement that has already seen positive results. It’s time that we take BOLD PROGRESSIVE ACTION and continue providing support to the American people.

If people can’t afford to live then how are they supposed to pursue the American Dream or have a chance at life, liberty, or the pursuit of happiness?

$15 MINIMUM WAGE

The minimum wage in Texas hasn’t changed since 2009 and remains far below the national average. 42% of Texans make below a liveable wage while another 22% of Texans live below the poverty line. 4.5 million Texans would be affected by a raise in the minimum wage allowing them to finally make a liveable wage.

We can all agree that $7.25 isn’t enough to live off on. It’s going to take MORALE COURAGE if we want to see BOLD PROGRESSIVE CHANGE and help Texans simply afford to live.

FREE HEALTHCARE

Texas leads the nation in the number of uninsured citizens with over 5 million Texans not having health insurance, and over 700,000 of those being children. It’s time that as a nation we recognize healthcare as a right! Our healthcare system is broken and that has to change!

When mom’s have to ration their children’s insulin because they can’t afford the price of a prescription there’s a problem… When families are going into debt and facing bankruptcy from a simple medical bill there’s a problem… :When over 30 million people in the United States don’t have healthcare and another 75 million are living underinsured there’s a problem…

When children have to look their dying parents in the eyes because they couldn’t afford proper life saving healthcare there’s a problem… That’s why Arthur is fighting for Free Healthcare for all. If we want to see TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE in our healthcare system we have to take BOLD PROGRESSIVE ACTIONS!

FREE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Rising tuition cost has left college and trade schools inaccessible to millions of Americans and has left millions of others neck deep in crippling student loan debt. Americans owe over 2 Trillion Dollars in student loans and the average college student graduates with over $30,000 of debt.

That’s why Arthur is fighting for free community college and justice for the millions of students suffering from student loan debt. It’s time that we take BOLD PROGRESSIVE ACTION as a nation and recognize education as a right.

A GREEN NEW DEAL

At our current rate of emissions we are on pace to face a rapid increase in coastal floodings, droughts, wildfires, food shortages, and over 54 Trillion Dollars in global economic damages. We need a green new deal to expand and upgrade our renewable power sources, build energy efficient power grids, and help us reach our goal of bringing the U.S to net-zero emissions by 2030.

It is time that we prioritize the health of our planet. We are faced with a climate crisis and it’s imperative that we work to fix it now! We cannot wait! The only thing that will fix the destruction we’ve set upon the Earth is BOLD PROGRESSIVE ACTION!

We have to fight for a Green New Deal to not only save our dying planet, but to also fundamentally and drastically transform our economy bringing in close to 1.4 million jobs per year!

LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA

Rich business owners are profiting billions of dollars every year off of the marijuana industry while tens of thousands of black and brown kids are thrown into prison for possessing a few grams.

It’s not only the moral thing to do, but legalizing marijuana will add billions of dollars to the economy, create hundreds of thousands of jobs, and stop the racial disparities in marijuana enforcement. Marijuana is less harmful than alcohol and tobacco yet both are legalized. It’s time for BOLD PROGRESSIVE CHANGE![3]

—Arthur Dixon’s campaign website (2022)[4]