Issues

Springfield is facing a housing crisis that touches families in every corner of our community. Too many of our neighbors are being priced out of safe, stable homes, and rising rents are outpacing wages. Young people just starting out, families working hard to make ends meet, and seniors living on fixed incomes are all struggling to find affordable housing options. When people can’t afford to live where they work, it hurts not only individual families but also our entire local economy. Affordable housing is about more than just rent; it’s about making sure Springfield remains a place where everyone has the chance to build a secure future.

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That’s why our campaign is committed to tackling this issue head-on. In Jefferson City, I’ll fight to expand state funding for affordable housing development, partner with local governments to rehabilitate existing housing stock, and push for stronger tenant protections to keep families from being forced out of their homes. I’ll also advocate for tax incentives that encourage responsible development without driving up costs, and for expanding rental assistance programs that help people bridge the gap while they get back on their feet. Housing is a basic human need, and it should not be out of reach for hardworking Missourians. By prioritizing affordable housing, we’re not just addressing an urgent crisis, we’re laying the foundation for a healthier, fairer, and more prosperous Springfield for generations to come.

Too many families in Springfield are being forced to make impossible choices between paying for a doctor’s visit, keeping up with prescriptions, or covering the bills. Healthcare costs continue to rise while wages remain flat, leaving hardworking Missourians without the care they need. Rural hospitals across Missouri are closing, and even here in Springfield, families struggle with long wait times and the high cost of basic care. Access to affordable healthcare is not just about treatment when we’re sick, it’s about prevention, stability, and peace of mind that a medical emergency won’t push a family into financial crisis.

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That’s why our campaign is putting affordable healthcare at the center of our vision for Springfield. In the legislature, I’ll work to strengthen and protect Medicaid expansion, ensuring more Missourians have access to coverage and that hospitals, especially in rural areas, can keep their doors open. I’ll fight for increased funding for community health clinics, mental health services, and substance abuse treatment so that care is available when and where people need it. I’ll also push to rein in the skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs, because no one should have to ration life-saving medicine. By expanding access and lowering costs, we can create a healthcare system that works for everyone, not just those at the top.

Every person deserves the freedom to make their own healthcare decisions without interference from politicians. In Missouri, that basic right had been stripped away, until we voted on it. The state’s near-total abortion ban was one of the most extreme in the country, leaving women and families in Springfield and across the state without access to essential reproductive healthcare. These bans don’t make us safer, they endanger lives, push doctors out of our state, and take away the ability of patients to decide what’s best for their bodies, their families, and their futures.

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That’s why our campaign is committed to protecting reproductive rights in Missouri. In the legislature, I’ll work to protect access to contraception, expand maternal healthcare, and support measures that safeguard the doctor-patient relationship from political interference. Missourians have had the chance to have their voices heard on this fundamental issue. And we voted to protect everyone's bodily autonomy. Protecting reproductive freedom is not just about one procedure; it’s about ensuring that every person has the dignity, privacy, and autonomy to make their own decisions about their body and their future.

Springfield is built on the hard work of our teachers, nurses, service workers, and countless others who keep our community moving every single day. But too often, workers are not treated with the dignity and fairness they deserve. Wages haven’t kept up with the cost of living, benefits are disappearing, and politicians in Jefferson City have tried to weaken unions and strip away protections that keep workplaces safe. When workers don’t have a fair shake, families struggle, and our entire community suffers.

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That’s why our campaign is fighting for strong workers’ rights. In the legislature, I’ll oppose any so-called “Right to Work” laws that threaten unions and lower wages. I’ll support raising the minimum wage, expanding paid family and medical leave, and protecting the right of workers to organize and collectively bargain. I’ll also push for stronger workplace safety standards and enforcement, because no one should have to risk their health or their life just to earn a paycheck. When we stand up for workers, we’re standing up for families, for our local economy, and for the values of fairness and opportunity that make Springfield strong.

Public education is the foundation of opportunity here in Springfield and across Missouri. Every child, no matter their zip code or family income, deserves access to a fully funded public school with qualified teachers, safe classrooms, and the resources they need to succeed. But politicians in Jefferson City have consistently underfunded our schools while pushing voucher schemes that siphon money away from public classrooms and into private interests. Families in Springfield see the effects every day, larger class sizes, underpaid teachers, and students going without the tools they need to thrive.

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That’s why our campaign is committed to strengthening public education. In the legislature, I’ll fight to fully fund our K-12 schools and make sure teachers are paid fairly for the critical work they do. I’ll also support making higher education and vocational training more affordable, because preparing the next generation for success means opening every pathway to opportunity. By investing in our schools, we’re not just supporting students today, we’re securing the future of Springfield and Missouri for years to come.