Jason Reynolds

Jason Reynolds was born in Rochester, New Hampshire. He served in the U.S. Army from 1994 to 1995. He earned a high school diploma from Merritt Island High School and an associate degree from Northern Virginia Community College in 2012. His career experience includes working as a business analyst, project manager, program manager, and technical writer.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I've lived in Virginia since 2001, currently in Fredericksburg. I've been married for 31 years and have two wonderful children. I had a brief stint in the Army as a SIGINT analyst (honorably discharged). I was a stay-at-home dad for 9 years and then went back to work once both kids were in school. I'm currently a contractor working in IT.

I'm not a politician. I'm a regular person running to represent regular Virginians. My goal is to take our party, and our country, back from the political and economic elites and return them to the people.

I believe in fighting for common sense progressive policies including preserving our democracy; protecting marginalized communities; safeguarding Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security; ensuring everyone has access to affordable healthcare; enshrining a woman's right to make their own reproductive healthcare choices; respecting our international allies; and reforming our tax code to ensure millionaires, billionaires, and corporations pay a fair share.

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?

America has ignored its workers for too long. We need to enact a set of progressive policies that ensure working Americans are not left behind again. The minimum wage needs to be raised to $20 per hour. Credit card and student loan interest rates should be capped at no more than 10%. States must be incentivized to construct more affordable housing. And corporations need to be held responsible for price gouging and excessive rent increases.Healthcare costs are out of control and our profit-first system benefits nobody except the corporations and their shareholders. We need to adopt a system where unexpected illnesses don't lead to bankruptcy or force people to skip necessary medical care because of the cost. When I am elected, I will work with my fellow progressives to reform our healthcare system to lower costs.

In addition to reducing costs, we also need to expand access to primary care in rural areas and after hours care in all areas. We need to incentivize medical professionals to serve where the need is the greatest. I believe we can do this by first committing to build hospitals, clinics, and urgent care facilities where we currently have none.I am horrified at the current administration's treatment of minorities, marginalized communities, and non-Christians. Diversity has always made our nation stronger and should be encouraged. We must stop punishing people for who they love, how they look, what they believe, or how they feel. We must work to enshrine the rights of all ethnicities, religions, sexual orientations, and gender identities to freely live their lives to the fullest.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Healthcare; housing; social safety nets; the environment; taxation; education

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

I look up to my mom. She taught me the value of working hard and being able to empathize. She was a single mother of four who went back to college while working and raising us. She not only graduated but went on to lead social work teams in Florida, Georgia, Iowa, and Virginia. She always treated her clients the way that she would have wanted to be treated when we were struggling and needed help.

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

First and foremost, elected officials have to be good at listening to their constituents' concerns and translating what they hear into something actionable. If you aren't able or willing to listen, you should not be running or serving.

An elected official also has to understand that they have a responsibility to serve their constituents and their country, not themselves. No Senator should be working to enrich themselves at the expense of serving the public.

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

I am an excellent listener.

I'm a dedicated worker.

I love to read.

I've had a wide range of life experiences.

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

The core responsibilities of a Senator are to protect the Constitution, to represent the interests of their constituents, and to enact legislation that is in the best interest of the country.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I'd like to know that I left the world a little bit better than I found it.

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

The Space Shuttle Challenger explosion. I was 11 and the whole elementary school was outside watching the launch.

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

Closing the wealth gap and combating extremism.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

I believe we need to implement term limits for Congress and Supreme Court Justices. If elected I pledge to serve no more than 2 terms as Senator.

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

The Senate is unique in that each election provides a snapshot of the true pulse of the state. Seats in the House can be gerrymandered, and the Presidency can be won without winning the popular vote, but every six years a Senate candidate has to convince a majority of voters that they are best suited for the job.

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

I believe that institutional knowledge can be helpful, however it's important to remember that nobody currently serving in the Senate had experience as a US Senator until they were elected to the office.

On the other hand, when things are no longer working the way they should, a fresh set of eyes and different perspectives can be useful.

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

I believe compromise is desirable, but it's important to never compromise on your core values.

What committees interest you?

Finance (Social Security, Healthcare, and Taxation)

Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry (Food and Nutrition, Conservation)

Appropriations (HUD)

Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs (Housing, Community Development)

Energy and Natural Resources

Environment and Public Works

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

I believe politicians should be fully transparent. Their constituents have a right to know how they are earning money, who they are receiving campaign funds from, and how they are spending those funds. Dark money in politics is a huge issue right now.