Meet Joshua
From Here. For Here.
I grew up here in the Ozarks, and I’ve seen the same struggles many of you have: neighbors choosing between groceries and medicine, families working multiple jobs and still falling behind, seniors struggling quietly because they don’t want to burden anyone, and young people leaving because they don’t see a future they can afford here.
My upbringing wasn’t easy. I grew up in a difficult home shaped by a very strict religious environment. The people in this community showed me real kindness and support, and they helped me move forward.
When I was younger, I sold baked goods at the local farmers market. Later I worked at a local coffee roastery, where I met people every day who were just trying to make ends meet. Those experiences stuck with me. I know what it’s like to work hard and still feel like you’re barely keeping your head above water.
That’s why I’m running. The people in this district deserve someone in Jefferson City who remembers who sent them there and isn’t afraid to stand up for our communities.
Ozarks Raised. Ozarks Values. Ozarks In Action.
Safeguarding Missouri Voters
Missouri’s constitution gives the people the right to pass laws through the ballot initiative process because sometimes politicians in Jefferson City stop listening to the people who sent them there. Recently, corporate interests and their allies in the legislature have tried to undermine that process. When voters approved Proposition A to raise the minimum wage and guarantee paid sick leave, politicians moved to overturn it instead of respecting the will of the people. That’s wrong. When Missourians vote, that decision should stand, and I will fight to protect the initiative process from being weakened by corporate lobbyists
Advocating for the Ozarks
The Ozarks should not be a dumping ground for corporate interests. Arkansas-based companies have polluted Missouri waterways with meatpacking and factory farm waste, and proposals for massive AI data centers threaten our water and power.
We also need real solutions for communities dealing with repeated flooding around Bull Shoals Lake.
It is also imperative that we protect the Ozarks from Silicone Valley. They expect to buy up our land and pollute our waterways with their AI Data Centers - but the people of Missouri say otherwise. No data centers in the Ozarks.
Affordable Healthcare
Healthcare costs are crushing families across Missouri. Too many people are skipping doctor visits, rationing medication, or going into debt just to stay healthy. In rural parts of our state, people often have to drive an hour or more just to see a doctor, and when hospitals close it leaves entire communities without care. I support universal healthcare and will fight to protect Medicaid expansion so that everyone can get the care they need without going broke.
Strong Public Schools
Public schools hold our communities together, especially in rural Missouri. But politicians in Jefferson City keep trying to divert funding away from local schools.
I will fight to fully fund public education, support our teachers, and make sure every student has access to free breakfast and lunch at school so no child has to try to learn on an empty stomach.