Statement Regarding the Censure of Thom Tillis

I have been involved in the Republican Party for almost a decade. For over 2/3 of my adult life, I have and will continue to serve the Republican Party and elect Republicans up and down the ballot. I am honored and privileged to serve on multiple committees and as staff to county parties and campaigns. But those who know me know that I live a relatively private life despite my well-established online presence. This is because I, like many of you, value privacy.

One of the most private things about my life that even only a handful of people know about me, even outside politics, until now, is that I am bisexual. For the last decade, I have not only been a Republican but an LGBT Republican. I only bring this up because I was, frankly, taken aback by our convention’s decision this weekend to censure Thom Tillis for his support of same-sex marriage.

Aside from the obvious that it is an abuse of the censure authority to be censuring for policy disputes, we should be thanking – not punishing Senator Tillis. The bill in question was going to pass, but thanks to Senator Tillis, it passed with an amendment that protected our businesses, our churches, and our communities from being dragged into court for refusing to bow to the predations of the radical left.

I understand that marriage is a deeply sacred religious institution, and I believe the compromise in protecting that institution is that those who believe same-sex marriages violate that institution should not be forced to participate, and thanks to Senator Tillis, those people won’t be prosecuted for refusing to do so.

Our party has always been a big tent party. Whether we were under the leadership of Lincoln, Reagan, or Trump, we have always maintained that our most essential and sacred value is Individual Liberty. Whether it is your individual right to refuse to participate in a same-sex marriage or your individual right to have a same-sex legal union through marriage or otherwise.

Same-sex marriage is settled law and will remain settled law. As of June 2021, a record 70% of Americans support same-sex marriage; that number is up from 67% the year prior. That number only increases as time goes on.

I have been with my wife for going on 5 years now, but before that time, when I was dating and talking to other guys, something interesting always seemed to come up when I mentioned I was a Republican. Bisexual men, and even gay men, who just wanted to live their lives as I do, in peace and without forcing it on others, would tell me that they really like the Republican Party, but in their view, the Republican Party didn’t seem to like them.

There is a huge segment of the LGBT community – yes, even some of the T – that is not in your face with their sexuality. They, like me, don’t make their sexuality a core part of their personality, but rather a small puzzle piece in a huge 1 billion-piece puzzle that makes up the complex DNA that makes us who we are. They don’t care if you acknowledge them, if you know they are gay every time you see them, or if you conform to their worldview. Because they, too, believe in individual freedom. Unfortunately, I believe our party is too caught up in listening to the loudest voices on both sides of the aisle right now and is forgetting about the forgotten men and women of this country in the middle who are desperate to join the party of individual freedom but are quickly turned away by reactionary politics such as what we saw this weekend. We should be embracing those in the middle, especially as the Democrats run as far to the Left as possible and continue to alienate more and more middle-of-the-aisle Americans.

I am not a particularly religious person, so in closing, I will say this, Thom Tillis has my continued support, and he has my appreciation for protecting my friend's religious freedoms, even when they are missing the forest for the trees. I urge my friends and my colleagues in the Republican Party to unite and get ready for a very tough 2024 election. Our Republican party continues to always have my support regardless of the disagreements we have. I look forward to continuing to elect Republicans for years to come.

Statement on The Indictment of President Trump

The decision by Alvin Bragg to prosecute President Trump for a minor crime while letting real criminals roam New York’s streets is one of the most disturbing political developments of my lifetime. This is an obvious example of a political prosecution by a Democrat district attorney with no standing to prosecute the President for the crimes he alleges. Mr. Bragg is bending the law and his own authority to prosecute the former President. President Trump will be acquitted of the charges, and hopefully, Mr. Bragg will face consequences for his egregious actions.

Statement on a Potential Run for Congress in 2024

Over ten years ago, when I was a freshman at Randleman High School, I ran a mock Congressional campaign for Clayton Ballentine for Congress 2024. During that time, over ten years ago, I had the support of many people in Randleman. The support was so overwhelming that I still get asked if I will run for Congress to this day. The outpouring of support was and continues to be humbling.

As I became older and wiser, I discovered various ways to get involved. Since signing up to volunteer with the Randolph County GOP I worked my way from a nobody to the Digital Director of two campaigns and the digital and social media advisor to many other campaigns.

I have gone from complaining about the political process to getting involved in the political process, from complaining about not seeing change to making change happen.

My journey from a 4-year high school freshman dropout to who I am today has been nothing short of remarkable. I owe it all to God and my family - especially my late father. Throughout the journey, I have always asked myself, would I ever run for Congress like people keep asking me?

Randolph County is responsible for sending some of the best stewards of Conservatism to Raleigh, Washington, Asheboro, and beyond. My home county's impact on national, regional, and local politics has been outstanding. Through it all, over the last seven years, I have had a front-row seat to see it all happen.

Many great people represent Randolph County. Therefore, my place in the political world is right here, at home, in Randolph County. As humbling as it is to hear the fantastic support I received, and will hopefully continue to receive, I will not be running for Congress.

I will continue to support Republicans throughout the country to ensure that the Republican Party remains on the front lines of protecting your rights from the predations of the Authoritarian Left. Although I will not represent my three-stoplight hometown in Washington DC as Congressman come 2025, know that I will always represent our hometown's values wherever my political journey takes me.

I will always be committed to improving the United States' future. This is a commitment that I will never abandon. No matter where I am, what I am doing, or whom I am working for, I will always be humbled and proud of the people who stood by and supported me. I appreciate your support, and I look forward to continuing to earn your friendship and support as I continue to preserve the beacon of freedom that our country is.

"America is, and always will be, a shining city on a hill.” – Ronald Reagan