Josiah for Texas: A Deeper Dive into the Candidate’s Life and Beliefs
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Advocate and provider to the homeless. Challenger of partisan politics. Children’s rights activist. Protector of the elderly, the marginalized, the forgotten. Business owner, inventor, author, artist, philosopher. Husband, father, partner and friend.
All of these things describe Josiah James Ingalls, but they are only a start. Born in Maine and reared in Texas, raised in poverty but refusing to stay there, challenged by disabilities but never stopped by them, Josiah knows the tough side of life but continually reaches out to those who struggle as he has done.
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“I have a long track record of fighting for everyday people and fighting to improve our most vulnerable citizens’ quality of life,” Josiah says. “I also have a history of running for public office and being a candidate that refuses to lie or manipulate people to get elected. If elected, I won't just be the Republican junior senator I will be a senator for every Texan regardless of their political affiliation.”
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Never a loyalist for either major party, Josiah stresses his willingness to work with senators on both sides of the aisle, creating compromises and goodwill instead of confrontation and bitterness.
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“We deserve better than Ted Cruz, but right now a Democrat probably can’t win a Senate seat in Texas,” Josiah says. “Maybe that will change in a few years, but it won't change fast enough for the 2024 election. So I would encourage Republicans and Democrats alike to consider me an option. If we want Ted Cruz out of office, then I would encourage all Texans to consider me their candidate to unseat him.”
Just a few minutes of talking with Josiah reveals a personality shaped by hardship but purified by insight. He talks about things like:
Our social responsibility: “It has been said that when you are part of a society or a community, every child is your child, every grandmother is your grandmother, every grandfather is your grandfather, every mother is your mother and every father is your father – and so you have a social and moral obligation to look after them.”
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Being victimized: “Victimization happens to us in life, but only you can choose how you define it and how it defines you as a person. How can you transform the adversity that happens to you into a power for good, and a defense against those who seek to victimize others by action or inaction? You may have been victimized, but you are not a victim unless you self-identify as one.”
Making do: “Growing up in extreme poverty, we did not have money for everything we needed, so my father compensated for this by dumpster diving. He did it our entire childhood and beyond. He always told me, ‘One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, and the rich are wasteful and will throw away anything, even if it’s still good.’ This education proved very useful years later when I became homeless and had to get the things I needed with no money.”
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Fixing vehicles: “Every time I have to do mechanic work, I'm always reminded of what my father told me. He said, ‘Get your ass over here and learn how to do mechanic work because you're going to need to do it when you get older.’ He was right, but I still hate getting motor oil and grease on me.”
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Homeless advocacy: “Twenty-six years ago, when I was 17, I found myself homeless and on the streets, where I lived for about 2 1/2 years. That experience transformed me into an advocate for homeless individuals. In my life since then, I have often found myself speaking out and being the voice for the homeless population of Austin and surrounding areas.”
Daring to be truthful: “My past is not pretty and I've done things I'm not proud of, but if directly asked about them I am willing to be honest. I am well known for being brutally honest.”
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Studying law: “So in order to make true change in our legal system, for the good of the whole and the benefit of humankind, someone has to be willing to take cases to address the imbalances of society and the corrupt financial power structure.”
Refusing to be bought: “As someone who has run for public office multiple times and has seen the behind-the-scenes process of political campaigning, I know that most politicians eventually become bought and paid for by their donors. In order to prevent this, a candidate must have a personal plan in place to prevent themselves from falling into the trap”
Want to learn more? Send your questions to the Josiah for Texas Media Team.
