Mikel Wein

Mikel Wein graduated from Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2012, a graduate degree from the City University of New York Graduate Center in 2016, and a Ph.D. from the University of St Andrews in 2024. His career experience includes working as an archaeologist.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I live in Letcher County, in a log cabin on land that has been in my family for over a century. I believe in the promise of America: government “of the people, by the people, for the people.” I believe we must hold our elected representatives accountable when they put personal or party loyalty ahead of their constituents or their oath to support and defend the Constitution. I believe we deserve the following: to be able to heal our communities and environment; a national healthcare system that prioritizes people over profit; jobs that pay enough to live the American Dream; and an end to wealth inequality, corruption, and foreign entanglements that do not benefit America. Over the past few months I have knocked on doors and listened to folks around KY's 5th district. Over and over, you have told me the same things: You love where you live and want your children to be able to stay there; you don't want to be priced-out or have our communities die; and you want a representative who will fight for legislation that supports, rather than extracts from, eastern Kentucky. Our region has a long history of standing up for better lives. I believe it's time we stand up again. We deserve better.

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?

Eastern KY deserves to end the decades of corporate and monopoly control of its land, energy, and natural wealth, and chart its own future. I propose a Resilient Community Corps and Community Benefit Agreements that provide direct, federal support for local jobs or training and public-works projects. Communities could, for example, repurpose abandoned mine lands for local green energy; build community centers for youth, family, and disaster support; or rebuild housing and infrastructure have been lost to catastrophic floods.It's time to end wars, military actions, foreign entanglements, and "homeland security" services that do nothing to better Americans or keep us safe. I think it's time to de-fund our own military actions against other countries, including Iran; halt military support for other countries, such as Israel, that commit genocide or other crimes against humanity; and de-fund services, such as ICE, that are unlawfully harming people in our own country and making us afraid. I propose re-directing those funds to rebuild communities here at home and provide humanitarian aid abroad.It's time to stop the grift and deregulation that are enriching billionaires and large corporations, allowing the rampant growth of AI and cryptocurrency scams, and making workers and communities poorer. It's time to hold grifters accountable - from the President to local government; fix our upside-down tax code; regulate AI and cryptocurrency; and return wealth to workers. I support corruption inquiries; a 'no billionaire' tax code; strong watchdog and consumer agencies; strong regulation on growth of AI, including data centers; and strong regulation of cryptocurrency and blockchain applications in finance. It's time to restore trust in government again.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

At home, I'm passionate about moving away from the neoliberal economic policies of the last 50 years and moving toward more protectionist FDR-style policies that priortize standard-of-living, strong unions, and wealth-equality. I belive it's time to fully embrace an Economic Bill of Rights and robust social safety net. Abroad, I'm passionate about moving away from American colonialism through military power, reining in the military-industrial complex that powers wars, and ending support for the world's dictatorships. I believe in increasing our reliance on soft power, diversifying our exports, and promoting more stable self-governing nations.

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

Franklin Delano Roosevelt. When FDR came into office, it was at the height of the great depression in America. The working class had been largely ignored in favor of enriching the robber baron millionaires who dominated almost every major American industry at the time. Their greed and malfeasance ultimately created the worst economic crisis the country had ever faced. Roosevelt rejected the politics of the previous four decades, instead choosing to prioritize the American worker and ensuring prosperity for every citizen, not just the wealthy. This refocusing of the economy to support the average American not only saved us from the great depression, but also allowed us to win World War II. That modern politicians today have either forgotten, or rejected, the lessons of Roosevelt is one the greatest offenses they could aim at the American people.

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

Honesty, integrity, and the courage to never waver from those principles.

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

The ability to listen to, understand, and communicate effectively with constituents; to never decieve or mislead them; and to fight relentlessly for their benefit.

What legacy would you like to leave?

See above.

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

I was a contract archaeologist, and worked at Fort Lee for around a year.

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

Historically, the House of Representatives, and house members, are the most responsive to the needs of the American people. This is because they are required, by the nature of the short term allotted to them, to maintain a connection with their constituents. Unlike the senate, whose members are insulated by the length of senate terms and longer-term connections to donors, house members must face their mistakes and learn from them. Further, the number of house members makes the chamber more accessible to regular voters who have ideas for how to improve our governmental systems. Subsequently, house members are often more willing to embrace more unconventional or progressive solutions.

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

The collapse of the American empire. Specifically ,the collapse of the petro-dollar system and the end of neoliberal colonialism through mechanisims such as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.

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

I do not believe that policymaking requires compromising my core beliefs or commitments to constituents.

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

The 9/11 terrorist attacks.