Todd Schaefer

Todd Schaefer was born in Anderson, Indiana. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1998 to 2018. Schaefer earned a high school diploma from Highland High School. As of 2025, he was retired.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I'm retired Navy, and my service to my country isn't quite done. These widely popular issues are being overlooked by our bought politicians on both sides. Our country is at an inflection point and people are starting to wake up to the realization that the two party system isn't working for us. While the two parties have their internal struggles and tear themselves apart, they are leaving us behind. We have a chance to show the country that there is a different way.

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?

First we need to claw our government back from the big dollar donors that seemingly own BOTH parties. 2026 marks 250 years of independence, it would be a good year to remember George Washington's words from his farewell speech regarding political parties: "cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be able to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government".Second I'd like to acknowledge the fact that even if I'm elected, only 1 member of Congress out of 435 cannot magically change the world. However, I will do everything in my power to garner like minded support in the House. It has been shown that a handful of representatives can have an outsized affect if they stick together on an issue. This could be used to, at the very least, keep poison pills out of already bloated legislation.Finally we need to refocus our efforts at home and stop wasting money in foreign entanglements. Republicans can say 'America First' until they are blue in the face, but they just gave the Pentagon a TRILLION dollars in the OBBB. National defense... the real kind... starts right here at home. We want healthy citizens. We want educated citizens. We want thriving citizens. We need manufacturing here and the infrastructure to support it and move it efficiently. Just imagine what is possible if we believe defense at home is worth only HALF of what we've wasted abroad. Once you put it in perspective, it is clear we've been sold short.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

1. Get Money Out of Politics

2. Universal Healthcare or at an absolute bare minimum a public option

3. Housing Affordability through getting private equity out of our housing market

4. A minimum wage that isn't 16 years out of date and a way to tie it to inflation

5. Free Speech... I'd say more, but... :D

6. Reduce defense spending and shifting to diplomatic foreign policy over war

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

Responsiveness to voters over donors or lobbyists would certainly be top of list. Additionally I'd like more elected officials to have a broader vision for the country's future that goes beyond their next election.

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

The Challenger disaster is the first historical event I remember from childhood. I was 7. If that only counts as newsworthy and not historical, I'd say the fall of the Berlin Wall when I was 10. For those who weren't born or were too young, it is hard to describe how much hope there was in our country. That has had a profound impact on my world view. How we could have 'won' the Cold War and ended up where we are now is truly astonishing and depressing in equal measure.

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

I'd love to say it helps, but in our two party environment where candidates are selected by party elites before they can be elected by the people... well, make up your own mind about that.

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

We are standing on the edge of a world that we aren't the masters over. Our foreign policy through the use of war and economic war through sanctions and now tariffs has isolated us in many ways from the world. We need to change course before we are completely on our own.

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

Yes. The House is supposed to be the closest to the people. A shorter term comes with more immediate accountability to the voters.

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

Dennis Kucinich for standing his ground against the Iraq War. He was redistricted out of his seat in 2012 in retaliation for not falling in line. We need those kinds of unwavering principles in power. The closest to that we currently have in the House is Thomas Massie. He has faced backlash from his party for his principles and hasn't bent the knee. We'll see how much they spend to primary him out this year.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I'm Todd Schaefer and I am running as an independent for US House FL-04. I'm retired Navy, and my service to my country isn't quite done. There are widely popular issues that are being overlooked by our bought politicians on both sides. Our country is at an inflection point and people are starting to wake up to the realization that the two party system isn't working for us. It is time to send a message that enough is enough.

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?

We need to end government corruption through publicly funded elections and stopping the DC revolving door. Without this no sweeping policy has a chance of passing.We need to pass a fair minimum wage. It has been 15 years since it was raised, and I propose that we can pass an annually adjusted minimum wage to prevent this happening again.We need to provide healthcare to every American. Whether that is Medicare for All or a public option or whatever you'd like to call it, we need to remove the middle man between Americans and their doctors.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I served this country for 21 years in the Navy. In this time. I truly believed that it was for the protection of Americans and our way of life. The reality of our country doesn't reflect our ideals. We allow half a million Americans to sleep on the streets. We allow more than 40k Americans die each year for lack of health insurance. We are raising a generation that for the first time in our history will have a lower standard of living than their parents. These are policy decisions. We need to take our country back from special interests and put the power back in the people's hands.

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

Understanding their role as a public servant. You don't run for office to get rich, you run to serve. If politicians spent as much time with voters as on fundraising calls, perhaps we'd live in a better country.

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

I retired as a Senior Chief, but the first hanger in my closet to this day is my 1st Class Dress Blues. When I made Chief in 2010, this was suggested to me and I have done it since. It stays there so that each and every day that I reach for any other uniform or outfit I am reminded of where I came from. The leaders that had taught me both good and bad lessons, and the leader I choose to be each and every day. I will never forget those that need my service and leadership the most.

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

We are at a very divisive time in our country. Both parties are trying to convince us that our neighbor is our enemy to distract from the core rot of the system. If we don't wake up and realize that we have more in common than they'd have us argue about, more people will be disenfranchised from participating in the system consolidating even more power at the top. The world is watching as this is happening. We're already losing our influence on the world stage and US foreign policy will lead to our isolation if not worse.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

I think the only reason term limits were not included in the Constitution is the lower life expectancy of the time. I support term limits so that we can continually bring new leadership and vision to the country. Fresh leadership that hasn't been influenced by the monied interests in DC to the point of taking for granted the constituents they serve.

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

Absolutely. That is the one of our biggest hurdles with the two party system. If you are seen 'working with the other side' you are ostracized. That is even more true in our divided times. That is why we need independent voices in the halls of power.