John McCombs

John McCombs was born in Silverdale, Pennsylvania. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2013 to 2017. McCombs earned a high school diploma from Joliet Central High School and a bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 2012. His career experience includes working as an educator.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I’m not a career politician. I’m not a Washington insider. I am a Veteran of the United States Marine Corps (2013-2017), a stand up comedian (2010-present) and a man who has always been curious about others.

I grew up in Joliet, IL and throughout my public school education I wanted to get to know everyone, jumping from different social circles like Orchestra, Track, Cross Country, Youth Group, and JROTC. I also had a passion for challenges which is why I received an ROTC scholarship through the Marine Corps to attend the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

I graduated from U of I with a degree in Creative Writing but my real education began in the Marines. There I first began understanding the tenets of steward leadership, to lead from the front, and to 'find a way or make a way'. After deployments to Romania and Spain I exited the Marines in 2017 and moved to Chicago to earnestly pursue a career in stand up comedy.

During this time I worked as a rideshare driver, a proofreader, a communications specialist, and an attorney manager at a corporation but my passion was in comedy.

Touring internationally and even locally taught me that most people agree on 95% of issues if we are able to look past labels. Empathy and compassion and diversity are strengths, not weaknesses.

I'm running for office because ‘Patriotism’ isn’t living in a fairytale world where your country has no faults. It’s the belief that it can and should be better for EVERYONE.

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?

Crafting an American economy that prioritizes people, not corporations.

We as America can have a strong middle class. We can have a government that prioritizes people over profit. We can work a 40 (or dare I say, 35) hour work week and have enough to afford our rent, feed our families, send our kids to good schools, go to the doctor, and have enough money left over for our savings. We can make early childhood education affordable for all. We can make early childhood education affordable for all.Delivering worry-free healthcare for everyone in America.

We can have affordable healthcare where nobody has to go bankrupt because someone in their family got sick. We can have single payer insurance that prioritizes your health and life over maximizing ‘shareholder value’. We can have affordable medication that doesn’t cost 100x what you would pay in another country. We can have healthier communities.Respecting the dignity of all Americans and aspiring Americans.

We can have police forces that treat the communities they serve with respect and accountability. We can be a land of opportunity that attracts the best and brightest people from around the world to contribute to our great country. We can have strong borders while also having immigration enforcement that respects people’s rights. We can give honest, hardworking people who’ve been contributing members of their communities for years a pathway to citizenship that is fair and equitable.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

John has great interest in economics, healthcare, criminal justice reform, and international relations.

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

There are many different leaders that I look up to but I think the character I would most like to emulate is Abraham Lincoln. Though he was not born in the state, he made Illinois his home and his reputation became synonymous with the state. He made incredibly choices, some controversial, to ultimately save the country and bring about the conclusion of a horribly destructive Civil War. He ultimately gave his life in this endeavor but his tireless efforts were in service of his country and his desire to end the horrible institution of slavery and maintain the Union.

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

Humankind: A Hopeful History by Rutger Bregman. He throws the entire idea of 'survival of the fittest' out the window. The book lays out the argument that it is through cooperation, integration, and interaction that the human race flourished, not domination. It is a fantastic read for those who feel especially upset or hopeless about the state of the world and believe that our civilization is doomed. Empathy and connection are our true strengths.

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

Integrity and human empathy are of the utmost importance. One of the biggest reasons people are turned off by politics is the lying, the two-face character of so many politicians and secondly they don't feel like their elected officials actually care about them.

I learned long ago as a comedian that an audience is very aware of when you aren't being authentic with them. They will never connect with you if they feel you are deceiving them.

I intend to always be honest and open with the people I represent.

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

From years of doing stand up comedy I have developed an innate ability to read people and speak in terms they understand. It also made me familiar with entering environments where I will have to fight for laughs or I have to think on my feet and where people are expecting me to fail. Navigating a space like that on a nightly basis makes politics look like more of the same just with everyone perhaps a little more sober!

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

A Representative should make every single effort to understand, and therefore 'represent', every concern in their District.

It requires tireless leadership from the front and fighting everyday to make sure the concerns of the District are addressed in any legislation brought up in Washington.

There must be a balance with the concerns at the local and national level and an understanding that what happens in an urban district in Illinois affects a rural district in Iowa or vice versa.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I would like to reform the way we think about government and how when it is staffed with selfless people who want to serve that it can actually help the people who need it the most. Ultimately, if I can leave office having made the lives of even a few people easier then that's worth it to me. I have a dry erase board by my desk that has written on it: "It ain't worth working this hard for yourself!"

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 truly remember was the OJ Simpson trial primarily because I would watch The Simpsons as a kid and I think the name association made it stick out in my mind. I didn't follow the trial of course but I remember the news updates that would come on usually before The Simpsons came on TV.

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

I was a day camp counselor at a Christian Youth Center during the summers in Joliet. It was a seasonal job during the summer but I remember my excitement over getting the job and being responsible for leading young boys through various activities and learning lessons from scripture.

What is your favorite book? Why?

My favorite book is Slaughter House Five by Kurt Vonnegut. It redefined in my head what a great novel could be. It was funny, dark, philosophical, to the point and deep. It didn't need to wax poetic for paragraphs on end about the draperies in a room. It could say something incredibly poignant in one paragraph and make a crude fart joke in the next. Whenever I start reading it again it's difficult to put down.

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

I would probably be Dumbledore from Harry Potter. He has incredible knowledge and power and is perhaps the most powerful wizard ever and yet he chooses to be a schoolteacher. It goes to show that power is pointless unless you are passing it on.

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

"I 2 I" from my favorite childhood movie: A Goofy Movie. I'm actually wearing a Powerline shirt at this very moment!

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

I think getting older it can be very difficult to maintain the relationships and friendships you formed in your youth. It also seems to be much more difficult to form deep,

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

The House is still the most representative body in the Federal Government. Having a wide Representative body that directly reflects the population means you get a diversity of opinions, backgrounds, experiences, that are all important to consider when considering important decisions that affect the lives of millions of Americans.

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

I believe it can be beneficial but it is not necessary or else I wouldn't be running. Of course there is benefit to understanding a system, the key components, and establishing relationships but too often these systems become insular and take on norms that are detrimental to change or new ideas. In which case it requires people from outside of the system, to spearhead the change and hold it accountable.

I intend to call out areas where our system has failed and stifled progress because of adherence to 'norms and procedures'.

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

Our greatest challenge will be addressing an increasing wealth disparity fueled by an alternate reality media ecosystem that paints half the country as traitorous criminals or societal parasites.

Overcoming the programming that Right Wing Media echo chambers have cemented in people's minds to get them to vote for draconian immigration laws, destruction of services they actually utilize and depend on, and the normalization of Executive abuse of powers will be an incredible struggle.

Embroiling the American people in culture wars while the wealthiest elites give themselves more tax cuts and rollback employee protections is leading us down a pathway of unsustainability.

This is will be the hardest fight of our lives but if we want a future for our children and their children then it is one that we must fight and win.

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

I do. Job reviews in most professions are about twice a year. Having your bosses (voters) give you a job review every two years is more than enough time.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

I am a strong believer in terms limits and have made it a core part of my campaign. If elected I do not intend to serve more than three terms.

I am in favor of placing limits of 10 terms for Representatives and 4 terms for Senators. This will help keep political office as a public service and NOT a career.

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

While we disagree on a lot of policy issues and are in different parties I do respect Adam Kinzinger. Despite being pressured by Trump he still stuck to his morals and his belief system even at the cost of political points. He is unafraid to criticize Trump and go against the current that the rest of his party is following just for power or prestige.

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?

I volunteered at a local fresh market that provides produce and healthy food options for the community. One of the volunteers there was 99 years old. You would have no idea looking at her that she was as old as she was because she was stocking shelves and moving around just the same as all of us.

If she, at that age still found it important to help others than who am I to say, 'I'm tired' or 'Can't I just be selfish?' If we all had a heart for service like that woman, just doing the little bit that she can then all of our communities would be much friendlier places.

Tell us your favorite joke.

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

While I believe compromise is desirable I don't think it is necessary especially when compromise amounts to dehumanizing entire demographics of people. The GOP is charging full steam ahead with passing legislation along partisan lines that will obviously hurt the most vulnerable people.

We need to be ready and willing to fight and use our own power to protect the rights of everyone and ensure better lives for all Americans.

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?

I understand that the Federal deficit is unsustainable. We cannot continue to add more and more to the deficit, especially to accommodate billionaires. Raising revenue doesn't simply mean adding taxes but finding ways to balance the budget and shrink the deficit in a way that is responsible and fair to the vast majority of Americans who will bear the cost of this reckless spending with their Medicaid and other bills

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

The open corruption that is happening before our very eyes cannot be simply swept under the rug after this administration is out of power. It is the responsibility of the U.S. House to investigate every abuse of Federal authority to ignore the Constitution, accept foreign bribes, reward cronies, and enrich their own businesses and personal accounts.

What committees interest you?

The Ways and Means Committee to defend America's most important social services like Medicare and Social Security.

The Armed Forces Committee to make sure our military is properly supported and is deployed in the most meaningful and effective ways.

The Education & Workforce Committee to help empower our youth as they learn and grow and to help America's workers who keep our country running.

The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform to restore faith in the institution of Government especially in our Federal agencies

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

As someone who currently holds cryptocurrency, I am 100% in favor of members of Congress disclosing their finances and divesting their personally owned stocks and crypto.

We need to get big money out of politics and repeal the Citizens United ruling. Politicians should be answerable to their constituents and voters, not their largest donors.