Taner Lopez

Taner Demirci Lopez (Libertarian Party) is running for election to the U.S. House to represent Virginia's 7th Congressional District. He is on the ballot in the general election on November 3, 2026.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a proud U.S. citizen raised in a multicultural family, I have dedicated much of my life to understanding different languages, religions, and cultures. After studying Spanish Language and Literature, I earned a master’s degree in Religions and Cultures and a doctorate in Theology from the University of Murcia in Spain, leading to a career as a scholar and college professor.

I later transitioned from academia to public service, using my linguistic and cultural expertise as a cultural advisor supporting several U.S. government agencies.

America has given me countless opportunities and shaped me personally and professionally. I now want to give back by serving my fellow Americans in Congress and providing the representation they deserve.

I am a member of the Libertarian Party as I believe the two-party system has failed to adequately represent Americans, too often prioritizing partisan politics, foreign interests, and powerful special interests.

As both a candidate and your neighbor, I will fight for accountable and transparent government, individual liberty, personal responsibility, and the rights and interests of Virginians.

Together, we can break the cycle of partisan gridlock and protect freedom, justice, and opportunity for future generations.

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?

My first priority is restoring our independence.

America’s political system has become heavily influenced by foreign interests, powerful lobbies, billionaires, corporations, and special-interest groups. Too often, politicians promise to serve the people during elections but later put these powerful interests ahead of ordinary Americans.

I will fight to put the American people back in control of their government. I will oppose regulations and policies that do not benefit Virginians and introduce legislation to reduce special-interest influence, increase accountability and transparency, and protect our citizens.Taxation and the size of the Government:

A big topic is the size of the federal government and its spending. Its growing costs forces us to pay more and more in taxes every year. We are taxed when we receive our salaries. We are taxed when we buy groceries. We are taxed when we run businesses. We are taxed when we file our taxes. Tax, tax, tax! And the government is never satisfied; its appetite only grows. The more it eats, the more it demands.

How will I address this issue? First of all, I will oppose any bill that requires additional taxation. Second, I will introduce bills in Congress aimed at reducing taxes at the federal level.Immigration:

While our country continues to need manpower to build and maintain critical infrastructure, we face a significant immigration challenge. Millions of undocumented individuals have entered without proper vetting, creating both humanitarian concerns since many live in substandard conditions, and legitimate security risks for American citizens.

How will I address this issue? I will immediately introduce the American Controlled Immigration Workforce and Security Act, a bold, commonsense bill that finally ends the immigration chaos. It is time we put in place a plan that will effectically create a path to legally work and contribute to our society.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

American sovereignty, foreign policy, healthcare, immigration, and taxation.

Note: Lopez submitted the above survey responses to [the profile publisher] on August 18, 2026.

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March 4 submission

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

As a believer in God, I am a proud U.S. citizen. I dedicated my academic career to the study of world religions and cultures. I earned a master’s degree in Religions and Cultures, followed by a doctoral degree in Theology, which let me to become a scholar and a college professor.

After working in academia for several years, I decided to change the direction of my career and wanted to use my linguistic and cultural expertise to serve as a cultural advisor for several U.S. government agencies.

I have always had a strong passion for politics and a deep desire to serve in Congress, continuing my commitment to the people of America.

I appreciate the Libertarian Party members who have endorsed me for the sacred duty of serving my country at the heart of our nation. I believe that the old bi-partizan system does not function anymore and that America needs the Libertarian Party more than any time before. The Republican and the Democratic Parties completely forgot about their duty to serve to the citizens of this country and instead focused solely on foreign nation’s priorities and billionaire interest groups. As a Libertarian candidate, I will fight for the best interest of the American people, and the AMERICAN PEOPLE ONLY!

Together, we can move beyond empty promises and partisan gridlock and build a future grounded in liberty, personal responsibility, and respect for individual rights.

ALL FOR AMERICA AND AMERICA ONLY!

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?

Our Re-independence:

My first priority—yes, our independence—is my first priority. Because unfortunately, our country is no longer truly sovereign. We believe we are independent, but that is not the reality. Foreign countries, lobbies, billionaires, big corporations, and private interest groups have taken over our political system and now have complete control over our politicians, whom they have bribed for decades.

How will I address this issue? I will speak out and vote against all new regulations that do not benefit the American people. In addition, I will introduce bills in the House that will prevent our citizens from being robbed by these lords.Taxation and the size of the Government:

We have a big problem: The size of the federal government and its spending. Its growing costs force contributors to pay more and more in taxes every year. We are taxed when we receive our salaries, when we buy groceries., when we run businesses, when we file our taxes. Tax, tax, tax! And the government is never satisfied; its appetite only grows. The more it eats, the more it demands.

How will I address this issue? First of all, I will oppose any bill that requires additional taxation. Second, through internal study within the party, I will introduce bills in Congress aimed at reducing taxes at the federal level. This will include reducing personnel across all federal departments.Even though we live in the most powerful and advanced country in the world, compared with other European countries, many of our citizens cannot afford basic health care coverage.

The main reason for this is the extensive federal regulations enforced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on companies seeking to invest in the health care sector.

How will I address this issue? I will introduce bills in the House to reduce, and in some cases completely eliminate, the regulatory barriers that make investment difficult. This will encourage both domestic and foreign investors to enter the health care market, increase competition, and ultimately lead to a significant decrease in health care costs, making care more affordable.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Healthcare, Immigration, First Amendment, and Second Amendment, Tenth Amendment