I built my business from a high school idea and a pickup truck. I know what small business owners deal with every day. The endless paperwork. The risk of putting everything on the line. The pressure to keep going when the odds are stacked against you. And I know how many working families count on small businesses for good jobs, reliable paychecks, and a sense of community.

Small businesses are not just part of the economy. They are part of the fabric of our neighborhoods. They sponsor local sports teams, donate to community events, and know their customers by name. But too often, they are competing against giant corporations with deeper pockets, more resources, and the ability to undercut prices until local competition disappears.

I will work to make it easier to start and grow a small business by cutting unnecessary red tape, expanding access to affordable loans and grants, and simplifying the tax code so it does not punish local entrepreneurs. I will also push to end corporate practices that drive small competitors out of business and to ensure fair access to markets for local producers and service providers.

When small businesses thrive, they create jobs that stay in the community, keep wealth circulating locally, and give people more control over their economic future. We need leaders who understand that—and I will bring that fight to Washington.