My family's story is the American story—and it's why I'm running for Congress. Our journey is proof that hope, resilience, and unity can overcome any challenge.

My grandfather was a Bracero who came to the United States during World War II through FDR's bilateral agreement with Mexico. While American men fought fascism, Mexican men worked the fields legally, sowing the seeds of a better future. My mother came to the U.S. and worked the fields with dignity and documentation, carrying hope for the next generation.

My father was not so lucky. His father was a Zapatista. My father crossed the border “illegally,” worked the fields, then joined the garment industry in Los Angeles. My parents built their own business from scratch in the 1980s—when social mobility was still within reach. We sold clothing at a swap meet until NAFTA destroyed that business. Yet, my parents persevered. They moved to Las Vegas, worked for the Culinary Union, and ultimately retired into the American Dream. Their unwavering determination inspires me every day.

The difference between my mother's experience and my father's wasn’t character or work ethic. It was paperwork. It was policy. But policy can change—and together, we can make it change for the better.

I was born in 1981, the same year Reagan promised trickle-down economics would lift all of us up. It never did. Economic inequality forced me to drop out of college. I became homeless. I went through the criminal justice system—because in America, we criminalize poverty. But I was resilient and never gave up. I earned my degrees—holding a BA in Political Science from Arizona State University and a Master’s in Public Administration and Policy from the University of Nevada, Reno. I am a community organizer, political activist, small-business owner, and UNR graduate, deeply connected to Northern Nevada’s communities. I believe in public service, and I believe in the power of people to create a government that truly serves us all.

My family taught me what policy does to real people. My lived experience taught me what our system does to working people. That’s why I’m running for Nevada’s 2nd Congressional District—because I believe in the power of community, and I have the political courage the establishment lacks. Together, we can build a brighter, more just future.

In 1986, Reagan signed comprehensive immigration reform providing a pathway to citizenship for millions. Today, the establishment says they'll negotiate when the border is secure. But we know that real change is possible when we come together and demand it. We can create a country that welcomes and empowers everyone.

You cannot have a secure border when millions live in the shadows and employers exploit undocumented workers.

We need comprehensive immigration reform now: a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, a guest worker program with labor protections, streamlined legal immigration, and smart border security.

I'm running on a universal economic platform for ALL! From cradle to grave, with a Universal Basic Income or a Nevada Permanent Fund. Just like Alaska has funded theirs with oil for 50 years, we will fund ours with Tesla, Amazon, and the mining industry paying their fair share. Together, we can ensure every Nevadan has security, opportunity, and hope for the future.

I've watched my parents build a life from nothing, and I’ve seen that opportunity slip away for too many in the next generation. But I believe the American Dream should not be a relic of the past—it must be a promise for the future. The establishment won’t hand us this dream, but together, through people power, we can reclaim it. This movement is not about me—it’s about us. We are Battle Born for economic justice. Join us, share our message, and be part of the change. Together, we can inspire hope, lift each other up, and build a brighter future for all.

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