Nye earned his B.A. in political theory and international relations from Michigan State University in 2015. Nye professional experience includes interning for the Heritage Foundation's department of political thought, work at a libertarian public affairs firm, and for a global PR agency.[1]
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
Three? I'd be happy if our do-nothing, gridlocked Congress could accomplish one good thing for constituents. That's why my priority is government reform: Get Congress to serve citizens instead of special interests. I understand other issues--such as health care, immigration, and infrastructure--capture attention. These are critical problems. But here's the reality: A broken, corrupt system cannot and will not produce good solutions. To fix this, I propose three reform-focused bills that can unite voters from both sides:
- The American Anti-Corruption Act to stop bribery by lobbyists, block politicians from fundraising during working hours, close the revolving door, outlaw secret money, and end gerrymandering.
- The Fair Representation Act (HR3057) to abandon winner-take-all elections and adopt ranked-choice voting, giving voters more choices and electing several winners reflecting the real views of all constituents.
- The Comprehensive American Audit Act to eliminate waste, fraud, and corruption across all departments.
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
I'm passionate about reforming campaign finance and elections laws because our system is broken. If we want a healthy, functioning republic, real change starts here. Government is gridlocked. Society is polarized. We need fresh ideas, and new voices. But our two-party system doesn't allow this corrective. It's designed to restrict and crush political competition. If we want our country back on track, if we want positive leadership that imagines, and creates, a future where all Americans--regardless of their zip code--can flourish in freedom we must fix the system that's holding us back and dividing us.
Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?
George Washington. Sam Adams. Abraham Lincoln. Martin Luther King. Americans who believed in the promise and principles of America; who sincerely sought to serve the common good, and this country, rather than themselves or a faction.
Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?
No. My political philosophy is a blend of the best minds I've been lucky enough to find and my own conscience. I don't trust--or bother listening to--anybody who has a single book or influence. They're not thinking.
What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?
The best elected officials are servant leaders--they are statesmen. They have integrity and courage, and are motivated by the honor of public service, not their private gain of power or profit.
The worst elected officials are selfish opportunists--they are politicians. They will say and do what is required--or popular--and are driven by their ambition and desire for gain.
Wonder which a candidate will be? Look to how they run their campaign. Follow the money. Are they free? Or are they a puppet?
What is your favorite book? Why?
The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov. It's an amazing work--written in Russia during Stalin's reign--about the freedom of the mind, the power of creativity, and the futility of tyranny. I've never read anything so beautiful, funny, and true.
What process do you favor for redistricting?
Independent redistricting. Partisans should have no part.
Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?
In ordinary times, yes. But our time is far from ordinary. The bar has never been lower. The system is broken. The last thing D.C. needs is another millionaire, lawyer, or political insider. We need energetic outsiders with integrity who will stand up, speak the truth, disrupt the status quo, and fight for their district. I will because I'm counting on voters, not big donors or special interests.
What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?
Polarization. Our nation needs a strong center that can hold because our politics sits on a powder keg. Words, like actions, have consequences. If irresponsible rhetoric, passionate feeling, and tribal hatreds intensify there could be a spark. And if that fire starts to burn, there's no telling if, when, or how it might stop--violence begets violence. I'm not claiming this will happen. But we should act now as if it could because the path we're on now doesn't bode well for our future. I'm running to reinforce reason and moderation in our politics because it is the sole and only antidote for avoiding this real and grave danger.
If you are not a current representative, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?
I need a seat on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?
Yes.
What are your thoughts on term limits?
Term limits are not the problem. The problem is the undue power of money in our politics.
Is there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?
I admire the style of Justin Amash (MI-3). I don't always agree with him--or anyone, for that matter. But he is a model of a principled, independent-minded official working within a party. He is not afraid to oppose his party--people love, or at least respect, that.
Both sitting representatives and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?
I'll never forget one woman I met while petitioning for ballot access. Her eyes lit up when I told her I was an independent, a regular citizen running to truly represent people. We talked about the circus our politics has become--how pundits and politicians treat it like a show. How ordinary, hard-working people are left feeling powerless, voiceless, hopeless. I asked her, if she could send one message to D.C., to these people busy bickering instead of solving problems, what would it be? Her answer hit me like a gut punch: "Live one day in our shoes."
I talk about our broken system. This is what that means. It's failing millions of our fellow Americans in a million, heartbreaking ways. Humans need hope. And hope demands a new way forward.
