At some point, you stop talking about problems and start asking what you are going to do about them.
For me, that point came after trying to engage the way a constituent is supposed to.
Over the past several months, I reached out multiple times to my current representative about issues that matter to me and to families in our district. I brought up concerns about loopholes in the Mandatory Reporter system and gaps in labor laws that leave workers exposed. These are not complicated talking points. They are real problems that affect people every day.
I sent emails. I followed up. I even spoke to him in person. I never got a response.
I am not saying that to attack anyone. I understand that public service is busy and demanding. But I do believe this. If someone takes the time to reach out, they deserve to be acknowledged. That is a basic part of the job.
That experience stuck with me. Not because I was frustrated, but because it showed me something bigger. It is not just one person. It feels like both parties have gotten to a place where responding to people is not the priority it should be. Too many issues get ignored because they are not convenient or do not fit into a larger political agenda.
That is why I am running as an Independent.
I do not feel represented by either party right now. I believe most people in our district would say the same thing. We are not defined by party labels. We are families trying to do right, provide for our households, and build something stable for the future.
We need leadership that listens, responds, and is willing to act when something is clearly not right.
This decision also became very personal for me. I recently became a father. That changes how you think about everything. When I look at my son, I think about the kind of example I am setting. I do not want him to grow up thinking that when something is wrong, you just ignore it or hope someone else fixes it. I want him to see that you step up. You try. Even if you do not have all the answers.
Even making the attempt matters.
I am not running because I have all the solutions. I am running because I believe our district deserves someone who will actually listen, respond, and take responsibility. Someone who is not tied to a party first, but to the people they represent.
At the end of the day, this is about doing what is right, even when it is uncomfortable.
And if nothing else, I want my son to know that when it mattered, I stepped forward.
— Landen Baynard