William Marks

William Marks served in the U.S. Navy from 1996 to 2018. He earned a bachelor's degree from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1996 and a graduate degree from San Diego State University in 2007.[1]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

William and his family moved to Texas in 2023 after a 22-year career in the military and 6-year career at Meta. Marks is a combat veteran, six time Navy communications award winner, and U.S. Atlantic Fleet Destroyer Squadron 24 Shiphandler of the Year. He and his family live in Arlington.

In 2025 Marks founded Operation Caged Bird and raised more than $70,000 to provide banned books to students at the U.S. Naval Academy. For his efforts he was awarded the Courage Project Award.

Before moving to Texas Marks joined Meta (then Facebook) as Community Development Manager for the Western U.S. He awarded more than $10 million in donations to hundreds of schools, small businesses, and nonprofits.

Marks graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. in 1996 and retired from active-duty in 2018 as a commander. Marks was elected to the Amsterdam High School Hall of Fame in 2021.

In his final military assignment, Marks was the senior spokesperson for DoD intelligence issues, leading media engagement and special projects for the Vice President and Ambassador Nikki Haley. In this role, he held a Top Secret / SCI security clearance.

Marks was Chief of Media for the U.S. Navy from 2015-2016, directing the Navy’s engagement with national and international journalists, including crisis communications during an international hostage situation, a mass shooting, and roll out of the Navy’s $160 billion budget proposal.

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?

Down with Oligarchs

- I will prohibit unelected billionaires from running shadow government agencies and stealing your data.

- I will continue to reduce fraud, waste and abuse in the government - but I will do it with independent, experienced fraud investigators and accountants.

- I will vote to ban stock trading by members of Congress. Upon election, Congress members must shift their investments out of individual stocks and into index funds.

- I will sign a balanced budget pledge - Congress should not end its session without a balanced budget. We must reverse the $3.8 trillion deficit increase Republicans are enacting.Hands Off

- Hands off our social security.

- Hands off our medicare and medicaid. The Congressional Budget Office estimated 10.3 million people will lose health care coverage under Republicans.

- Hands off women's rights and bodies - each person must have the freedom to choose their own health needs with consultation by a physician - not a politician.

- Hands off public schools. As the son of a public school teacher, I will increase funding for public schools by voting against private school vouchers.Constitution & Ethics

- I will draft an ethics pledge for Congress - no revolving door between Congress and industry. Ban lobbying by former Congress members.

- I will vote to prohibit foreign influence; there must be strict prohibition on all foreign gifts.

- I will vote to overturn Citizens United. Dark money should be banned from politics. Political donations should only be made by individuals and families.

- I support due process for all. We must defend the rule of law. You are innocent until proven guilty.

- I will vote for term limits of 12 years for both the House and Senate.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Economic vitality for the middle class

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

1) Boost the middle class by making billionaires and oligarchs pay their fair share 2) Upholding our Constitutional values of due process. and rule of law 3) Integrity and ethics - we must overturn Citizens United and remove dark money form politics.

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

My ship deployed immediately on 9/11 to protect the East Coast from another terrorist attack.

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

My first job was janitor at a local school. You know the importance of hard work when you've mopped floors and cleaned bathrooms

What are your thoughts on term limits?

I support term limits of 12 years

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

I will vote for a stock trading ban for all members of Congress, as well as close the revolving door between Congress and industry

Campaign website

Marks' campaign website stated the following:

Marks Action Plan 1: Better Jobs

End corporate welfare and make large corporations invest in their employees - providing healthcare, training , 401k, and educational benefits.

Lowering taxes for all those making less than $400,000/year.

Raising the minimum wage for those over 18 years old while protecting small business owners from financial hardship.

Marks Action Plan 2: Improve Healthcare

We need universal healthcare. Every other other modern country has figured this out ... why can't we? The Congressional Budget Office estimated 17 million people will lose health care coverage under Republicans - while healthcare corporations make billions.

I will make prescription drugs affordable. We can do this by allowing the government to negotiate for better prices.

Hands off women's rights and bodies - each person must have the freedom to choose their own health needs with consultation by a physician - not a politician.

* I will end confusing and deceptive hospital bills, and end the craziness of $20,000 emergency room visits and $30,000 hospital births. Everyone should get a simple, itemized bill that is easy to understand.

MARKS ACTION PLAN 3: Affordable living

I will reduce daycare costs by 50% by providing training and incentives to create an affordable daycare system of qualified home daycare providers.

I will reduce healthcare costs by making the middle-man healthcare companies listen to doctors, and reinvest profits into hospitals and patient care.

I will demand home builders build as many affordable homes as they do expensive homes. For example, for each million dollar home built, they should build two new 3br/2ba starter homes for under $200,000.

I will protect social security. That's your money. You earned it.

MARKS ACTION PLAN 4: Bring Ethics back to congress

I will draft an ethics pledge for Congress - no revolving door between Congress and industry. Ban lobbying by former Congress members.

I will vote to ban stock trading by members of Congress.

I will sign a balanced budget pledge - Congress should not end its session without a balanced budget. We must reverse the $3.8 trillion deficit increase Republicans are enacting.

I will close tax loopholes so that billionaires or large corporation don't pay less taxes than the average middle class American.

I will vote to prohibit foreign influence; there must be strict prohibition on all foreign gifts.

I will vote to overturn Citizens United. Dark money should be banned from politics. Political donations should only be made by individuals and families.

I support due process for all. We must defend the rule of law. You are innocent until proven guilty.

I will vote for term limits of 12 years for both the House and Senate. I will personally term limit myself to eight years.

I will prohibit unelected billionaires from running shadow government agencies and stealing your data.

I will continue to reduce fraud, waste and abuse in the government - but I will do it with independent, experienced fraud investigators and accountants.

MARKS ACTION PLAN 5: Safety & Security

I will make sure your family, neighborhood and cities are safe.

I will fix the broken immigration system to reward those who work hard but prosecute those who break the law.

I will get ICE under control. No masks, no paramilitary raids. Everyone treated fairly.

No Vouchers. Hands off public schools. As the son of a public school teacher, I will increase funding for public schools by voting against private school vouchers.

We must keep our military modern and strong by investing in better tactical training, and expanding use of unmanned aircraft, vessels, and AI defenses.

I want to create a clear and legal path to citizenship for immigrants who've had a job and paid taxes for two years. If you play by the rules you should be rewarded.

[2]

—William Marks' campaign website (2026)[3]