I’m still running for Congress in North Carolina’s 8th Congressional District. I announced my candidacy three months ago when the district looked different because I couldn’t find anybody else to run. Now, I’m staying in the race because I have something to say and because I believe I’m the best candidate to represent the district. Besides, I’m confident that I can win in November.
Over the past few months, I’ve built a successful fundraising operation and the framework of an organization. I’ve thought long and hard about what I’m doing and why I’m doing it. I bring to this campaign a unique perspective that’s missing in Washington and missing from the larger political dialogue.
Over the past 20 years, I’ve had a front row seat watching the deterioration of our political system. When I began working in politics, campaigns were candidate centric. As my late friend Ross Bates used to say, “Candidates matter.” He meant that competence, experience, and personal beliefs were as important as party affiliation.
Sadly, that’s no longer true. Campaigns from the legislature to Congress are increasingly controlled by special interests and third party organizations that provide the money and drive the messages once determined by candidates. In 2014, outside groups dwarfed the amount of money raised and spent by Kay Hagan and Thom Tillis in the North Carolina Senate race.
Our system of politics was designed to give the people a choice by forcing candidates to defend their positions and articulate their visions. Today, the system has been corrupted to reduce competition and protect those in power. The most competitive races are now primaries, not general elections. Gerrymandered districts prevent the accountability the electoral system was designed to ensure. They’ve led directly to the dysfunction and polarization that plagues Washington, rendering Congress incapable of addressing even our most basic problems. The Senate is so broken, it can’t even hold hearings on a Supreme Court nominee.
The incumbent in the 8th Congressional District is a poster boy for this dysfunction. He’s a product of the system and used it to move himself up the ranks and he’s worked it to maintain his seat. His writings pander to the divisive social issues that excite and enrage his right-wing base. In 2011, He moved to the district from Washington, DC, just to run for the office. He campaigns on the taxpayer dime and his campaign coffers are filled with special interest money. He’s what’s wrong with the system.
As a Congressman, I will be diligent and hardworking, putting the people of the 8th District ahead of special interests. I’ll support policies that reward people who work for wages, not just those who make money from investments. I will fight for the water, sewer, roads, and infrastructure projects we need to prevent another Flint, MI, and to make us economically competitive and create jobs throughout the 21st century.
Mostly, though, I’ll work to reform our broken political system because, right now, we can’t even effectively debate the most pressing issues of the day. Speech may still be free, but it cost millions for the megaphone needed to be heard and special interests are using their money to drown out the rest of us. Rigged districts and voting rules protect incumbents and restrict competition. Elected officials are rewarded for protecting the status quo even if it’s not working for too many Americans. We can’t solve the rest of our problems until we fix what’s wrong with our politics.
Thomas Mills is the founder and publisher of PoliticsNC.com. Before beginning PoliticsNC, Thomas spent twenty years as a political and public affairs consultant. Learn more >
That is great news. If elected will you continue to write your excellent blog?
We need good people in office. You are so bright and above reproach. You could do a lot to help the people in your district.
You are my hero, Mr. Mills. You have the courage most people lack, to stand up for political office when so many loud mouths are disowning the entire democratic process, and so many powerful elites are using their money to influence elections. May your star shine bright!
So very happy to hear this……
While I agree with what you about the incumbent in the 8th we need you in the 9th.
Good for you, Thomas !
I’ll second that!
Your bio says you reside in Carrboro, NC, which is in Orange County. Is Orange County in the newly-drawn 8th Congressional District? If not, do you plan to move to the 8th Congressional District or will you be a candidate from outside the 8th District?
The constitution only requires candidates for the U.S. House to be residents of that state. That’s because the founders did not envision geographically based election districts.
I am quite aware of that. Was just wondering if Mr. Mills was willing to go on the record here that he is not a resident of the district that he is running to represent.
Generally speaking, most Congressional candidates run for Congress in districts where they reside, as it is usually considered politically advantageous to do so. Even Rep. Alma Adams, who is a resident of Guilford County, has stated that she will move to Charlotte to remain a resident of her redrawn district.
It is reported that Rep. George Holding will run for Congress from the newly drawn 2nd district even though he lives just outside the district boundary. But Mr. Mills resides some distance away for the district he is running to represent, a fact that has not been much publicized by Mr. Mills or his supporters.
Well, dang. I won’t be able to vote for you because I’ll now be in the 9th — but I sure will work as hard for you as I can! Good luck to you, and to the people of the 8th CD and all the rest of us who yearn for a better Congress!