Michael Gist

Michael Gist served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve from 1996 to 2013. He earned a high school diploma from Seabreeze High School; a graduate degree from National University in 2002; a military citation from the Naval War College in 2005; and a graduate degree from the University of Florida in 2018. His career experience includes working as a teacher.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am Michael L. Gist, a veteran of the Marine Corps, former public school teacher, and lifelong resident of Volusia County running as an Independent for Congress in Florida’s 6th District.

My family has lived, worked, and served here for over 100 years. My grandmother, Bernice Anderson Gist, worked for the Bouvier family in New York in 1939. Even though our community was segregated at the time, she chose to return to Ormond Beach because she believed in its potential and wanted to raise her family here.

I served 14 years in the Marine Corps and later taught in Volusia County public schools.

I am running as an Independent because both parties have failed the PEOPLE. In my military experience around the world, parties are too often about elites, not the people. I’m about the PEOPLE and representing us authentically.

That’s why my signature proposal is Freedom Accounts — a market-based solution that redirects ineffective government spending into personal investment accounts so every American can own their future, and reduce dependency on Washington. These accounts are universal and give families real choice in education, homeownership, healthcare, and long-term security.

I told my former students I would never give up on them. My mother taught me the same. Running for Congress is me keeping that promise to my family and to every family in our district.

I am a conservative Independent who puts people first.

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?

People First, Not Parties or Elites

I am running as an Independent because both parties too often serve elites instead of the PEOPLE. My military experience showed me this pattern around the world. I will represent our district authentically and put the interests of the working people of district 6 first.Freedom Accounts – Real Ownership of Our Future

My signature proposal redirects ineffective government spending into personal investment accounts for every American. These universal accounts give families real choice in education, homeownership, healthcare, and building assets they can pass to their children, grandchildren, great grandchildren — replacing dependency with ownership and independence.United WE Thrive - Never Give Up on FREEDOM, Our People or Our Future

From my grandmother choosing to build roots in a segregated Ormond Beach because she believed in our community, to my promise to my mother and my former students, I have never given up on our people. As your Congressman, I will fight for better education outcomes, accountability, and opportunity so subsequent generations can thrive.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

National Security, Education, and Justice.

As a veteran of the Marine Corps with 14 years of service, National Security is deeply personal to me. I believe in a strong national defense, secure borders, and policies that keep America safe.

Education is another passion. As a former public school teacher in Volusia County, I saw firsthand how the current system too often fails our children — especially the bottom 20%. I support real accountability, parental choice, and reforms that prioritize thinking skills and opportunity.

Justice is equally important. I am committed to reforming systems so that government serves the people — not the other way around. This includes protecting constitutional rights and ensuring fairness for all Americans.

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

I look up to my grandparents, particularly my grandmother, Bernice Anderson Gist. She worked for the Bouvier family in New York and received a glowing recommendation for her hard work and kindness. She could have stayed in the comforts of Long Island, but she chose to return to Ormond Beach even though our community was segregated at the time, because she believed in its potential and wanted to raise her family here.

Her example of sacrifice, faith in community, and long-term vision is the one I strive to follow. She taught our family to invest in people and place, not just chase personal comfort or elite circles. That same spirit drives my commitment to never give up on our people and to fight for solutions like Freedom Accounts that build a better future for everyone in our district.

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

The most important characteristics for an elected official are authenticity, being a true people’s representative, and a deep commitment to freedom and the Constitution.

Officials must be authentic — saying what they mean without pandering to parties or special interests. They must represent the PEOPLE first, not elites. Most importantly, they must believe in Freedom and the Constitution and have the courage to enforce and defend it every day.

These principles guide my campaign. As a veteran, former teacher, and Independent candidate, I have fought the administrative state for due process. In Congress, I will put people first and champion Freedom Accounts to restore ownership and independence to every American.

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

The core responsibilities of a U.S. Congressman are to faithfully represent the people of the district, uphold and defend the Constitution, and deliver real results that improve lives.

This means being in the communities I serve, knowing and understanding the real people, not just the elites. I must listen to constituents and put their interests ahead of parties or special interests. I must protect the Constitution and our freedoms, ensuring due process and accountability in government. And I must focus on practical solutions in key areas like national security, education, justice, and economic opportunity.

For me, this means championing Freedom Accounts to redirect ineffective spending into personal ownership so every American can build generational assets and independence. I will never stop fighting for better education outcomes, secure borders, and accountable government that serves the people — not elites.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I want to leave a legacy of Freedom Accounts, a permanent shift from government dependency to individual ownership and generational assets for every American.

For too long, ineffective spending and elite control have left too many people behind. Freedom Accounts redirect those resources into personal investment accounts that grow over time, giving families real choice in education, homeownership, healthcare, and building a future they own, not one controlled by Washington.

I want future generations to look back and say this is when America chose ownership over dependency, FREEDOM over elite control, and opportunity for all. From my grandmother’s decision to build roots in our community to my promise to never give up on our people, this is the legacy I am fighting to create.

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

Washing dishes at Mario's kitchen. I only had the job for summer.

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

The House of Representatives is unique because it is the institution closest to the people with members directly elected every two years, making them highly accountable to their constituents. This allows for robust debate, diverse representation, and the ability to petition the government for redress of grievances, as guaranteed by the Constitution.

Having served in the military and witnessed communist and authoritarian regimes firsthand, I appreciate how exceptional this system is. In those systems, elites and the Party select representatives, the people have no real vote, and there is no meaningful way to petition or hold power accountable. The House’s design of frequent elections, small districts, and open debate protects freedom by keeping power close to the people rather than centralized in unaccountable elites.

That’s why I am running: to be a true people’s representative who fights for ownership, independence, and constitutional accountability through solutions like Freedom Accounts.

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

The United States’ greatest challenges over the next decade are the fight against Communism (Elitism) and dependency, and the urgent need for national unity.

Elitism, whether disguised as big government, corporate cronyism, or cultural gatekeeping is communism, it concentrates power away from the people and creates a dependency mindset that weakens our society. I’ve seen this pattern firsthand in my military experience and my 14-year fight against the administrative state. When too many Americans feel left behind, especially the bottom 25%, it keeps open the door to division and exploitation. Elites are utilizing this to create more and more division. Elites don't care about categories, they care about control.

Our greatest challenge is restoring true unity around the Constitution and individual freedom, not forced conformity. That’s why I’m championing Freedom Accounts, a market-based solution that redirects ineffective government spending into personal ownership so every American can build generational assets and independence.

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

Yes, compromise is necessary and desirable in policymaking, but never at the expense of the people’s rights or the constituents we represent.

I believe in principled compromise that advances the common good, secures our borders, strengthens national security, improves education outcomes, and holds government accountable. However, I will never compromise on core constitutional principles, individual liberty, or the fundamental interests of the American people. Compromise should serve the PEOPLE, not elites or special interests.

That’s why I’m championing Freedom Accounts, a market-based solution that empowers every American with real ownership and independence rather than perpetuating dependency on Washington.

What was the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember?

Operation El Dorado Canyon, the US coming of Libya after the bombing of a disco in West Berlin. 1986.