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I’m not Joe Manchin.
Just want to put that out there now. No disrespect to Joe Manchin. I mean, he was a Democrat in a red state. You’re not going to get a Bernie Sanders in a state Donald Trump won by 42 points. That’s just reality.
But when I say I’m not Joe Manchin, what I mean is my style and approach are completely different from his. I’m a regular guy. I’m not wealthy. I’m not particularly suave. I’m plain-spoken. I’m fierce. And most importantly, my day-to-day concerns are the same as yours.
Look, if you told me 10 years ago I’d be sitting here defending the idea of being a “conservative Democrat,” I’d have laughed my ass off. Hell, I might’ve called you a Marxist on Twitter. But life comes at you fast, doesn’t it? Especially when you start listening more than you talk.
So let’s talk about this “conservative Democrat” thing. I read all of your feedback to my announcement yesterday. It was overwhelmingly positive, and I am grateful. But there was some skepticism too, and I get it. “Conservative Democrat” seems like a contradiction. But it’s not. And it’s actually pretty damn important.
Let me say something loud and clear up front: I haven’t changed what I believe all that much. I still believe in personal responsibility. I still think government should be limited and efficient, not bloated and overreaching. I believe in free speech, in the Second Amendment, in strong borders, and in a tough but sane foreign policy. That hasn’t gone anywhere.
But here's the difference: I care about democracy more. It’s what allows us to have policy differences in the first place. And I care about whether our kids and grandkids—yours and mine—grow up in a country that’s still functioning and free. That’s up in the air right now.
I don’t need to remind you of this, but I will anyway. The Republican Party isn’t conservative anymore. It’s a MAGA cult. It’s all about owning the libs, worshipping one man, and pushing cultural warfare tropes and conspiracy garbage instead of real solutions. It’s not about balanced budgets or the Constitution or any of the stuff I used to run on and care about. It’s about performative bullshit and power for power’s sake.
So if calling myself a “conservative Democrat” pisses some people off, so be it. All I mean is this: I’m someone who still holds conservative values, but I’ve found more honesty, more reality, and frankly more courage in the Democratic Party than I ever see on the other side anymore.
Take Kamala Harris. Did I agree with all of her political positions? No. But I knew she was a good person who believes in democracy, facts, and governing like an adult. That’s why I campaigned and voted for her last fall. But unfortunately she didn’t win. Which means we need to EXPAND our tent and FIRE UP everyone in it.
I’ve met a lot of Democrats like her—especially the more moderate, Main Street types—who want to get shit done. They want to fix healthcare without tearing it all down. They want border security and a pathway to citizenship. They believe in capitalism, with guardrails. They care about workers and small business. That’s not radical—that’s just pragmatic.
Meanwhile, the GOP’s out here disappearing innocent people off the streets for their opinions; turning educators, researchers, and journalists into mortal enemies; and letting billionaires run wild while everyone else struggles just to pay for rent and food.
So yeah, I’ll stand with the Democrats. Proudly. I’m here to help the Democrats, because right now, they’re the only team still fighting for the constitutional republic we love. That’s the most pressing goal. Everything else is secondary.
Being a “conservative Democrat” isn’t about trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. It’s about understanding that political differences do not matter if we can’t even agree on the rules of the damn game. If one party is actively trying to undermine democracy, then I don’t care if we disagree on tax policy or healthcare models—we can figure that stuff out after we keep the system alive. And then? I’ll work with anyone—anyone—who’s serious about governing and not burning the whole thing down just to impress a bunch of sociopathic Twitter trolls.
These are unprecedented times that require unprecedented action. Becoming a Democrat is about as unprecedented as it gets for me. But at this moment, it’s the only sane move, as someone with a platform who gives a damn about this country.
It’s time for us to shift from reacting to proacting. Let’s roll up our sleeves, and fix this broken country. Time’s ticking.

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