- Fred Clark: You know, northern Wisconsin is so much better than the broken politics that we see every day coming out of Washington.

We have serious challenges facing us right now, but those challenges won't get fixed until we all demand change.

My name is Fred Clark, and I'm running for Congress because I wanna be part of a Congress that works for all of us.

And I'd like to remind people that our neighbors today are not our enemies.

We all want clean air and clean water, good schools, good jobs, and good roads.

And we want a roof over our heads.

We want good health and good food.

Northern Wisconsin is rich.

We're rich in people, rich in culture and traditions and know-how.

We're rich in resources, like our farms, our forests, and our waters.

We have everything we need right here to lead a good life.

But for far too many people today in northern Wisconsin, no matter how hard they work, the American dream of buying a home, affording childcare, pursuing education, even just staying healthy, those things have grown out of reach for so many of us.

The affordability crisis is straining our safety net.

So, things like Medicaid, SNAP, housing, and childcare assistance, those are more critical than ever.

But the growing dependence on these programs?

That means something larger is failing.

And what's failed is that over the last 30 years, while our lives have changed and businesses have changed, technology has changed, and even our culture has changed, but the rules?

They've never changed to account for any of this.

So, Democrats and Republicans alike, they both own the failures that make reaching the American Dream so hard today.

The wealthiest people in our nation, they're making money hand over fist, avoiding accountability, and they're dodging taxes while the rest of us struggle.

Well, it's long past time for a new set of rules that works for everybody, new rules that are based on principles that have built this country.

Fairness.

We need a fair tax code that ensures everybody, including the wealthiest people and corporations in this country are paying their fair share.

And we need to take the power back from the big banks, the Big Pharma, Big Oil, and Big Tech to create a level playing field.

That's essential because if we don't restore economic fairness, then we can't restore affordability for working people, period.

Responsibility.

You know, a responsible government that creates rules that work for all of us.

A responsible government invests our tax dollars to ensure that we get the benefits that we've earned.

And it partners with private enterprise to jump-start economic growth, to fund large-scale infrastructure, and ensure that everybody has access to healthcare.

And, finally, innovation.

That's our lifeblood, and adapting to a new future, it's gonna require reimagining our economy and doing the research, the development, and the hard work needed to develop new products and services for that new economy.

And when boldness and innovation meets the work ethic of the Northwoods, we have the tools we need to bring about an economic renaissance for northern Wisconsin.

That's an exciting opportunity.

And with a Congress that works, we can grow a new Northwoods economy to help our communities thrive and make life affordable again in Wisconsin.

But this Congress, they failed at every turn to restore fairness and level the playing field.

This Congress, they haven't done a thing about the rampant corruption in Washington.

This Congress hasn't done a thing to stop another senseless war that we're all paying for at the pump every day.

And they gave away the power to stop tariffs that are creating economic chaos for businesses.

And they cut essential programs for healthcare and food assistance.

Why?

Just to fund more tax cuts for billionaires and pay for a stupid ballroom that nobody wanted.

This Congress has failed us.

And there's no path to prosperity without a Congress that does its job.

So, it's long past time for a new majority in Washington.

And I wanna go to Congress next year, and I wanna do that work for you.

And I would love to have your support.

[percussive music]