When I entered this race back in September of 2025, I understood that victory was a longshot. I had just returned to Reno last June, so I knew Nevadans would be rightfully skeptical. I had no local political connections. I had no list of Nevadans I could hit up for campaign funds. I wouldn’t have been much worse off had I just dropped in from outer space. I went for it anyway, because victory was never my only goal.
Our republic is failing. That’s what motivated me to run. That’s what inspired me to start preparing my campaign over four years ago. I was fed up waiting for our leaders to do something about it and decided to jump in myself. I felt I could do better, but there was only one way to find out. It was time to put up or shut up.
Moving to Reno and then announcing a run for Congress was never the plan: that would have been a stupid plan. However, my dad had a stroke a couple years back and I decided to move back to Reno—where I was born—to look after my folks. That made running for Congress very difficult, but it’s one of the best decisions I’ve made. I’m back to stay, so you’re just gonna have to get used to me.
I began my campaign with multiple goals. The main one was to launch a movement to get Big Money out of politics centered around the Ban Big Money Amendment because Big Money is killing our republic. I conceived of Civil Saturday, a neighborhood community-building experiment, because a strong republic requires strong communities. I hoped to elevate anti-establishment voices and find ways to evade the gatekeepers that ensure our choices always look the same. I was determined to shake things up and do politics differently—to blaze a new trail—because politics as usual has failed.
It’s not enough to talk about change: you have to bring it.
I’m proud of what our campaign accomplished:
I launched the Ban Big Money Amendment and convinced other candidates to support it. Voters now know about it and like it. I will continue to promote it.
I started Civil Saturday in my neighborhood, found a partner in my fellow candidate Samuel White, and already have people interested in starting it in their neighborhoods. We will be building stronger communities starting right here in northern Nevada.
I formed The People’s Democrats, a team of five anti-establishment Democrats running for CD2. We joined forces to do events together, raise all of our profiles, and help push the leading candidate over the top. It was something genuinely new in politics, and it had success. We got media coverage. It grabbed people’s attention. When Sam and I withdrew and backed Morgan Wadsworth, it shocked the party and all of the local stations reported it. It wasn’t 100% successful and we did some things wrong, but we proved it can work.
Ours was the only campaign consistently calling out Greg Kidd’s attempt to buy our primary, his enormous undisclosed conflict of interest, and his fluid political loyalty.
I promised honesty and transparency, even at my own expense, and I delivered it. When the People’s Democrats did not completely fulfill its original promise, I publicly took full responsibility and clearly explained why.
I said from the beginning that this campaign was not about me. I proved it when I publicly withdrew at the Washoe County Democratic Convention and forcefully backed Morgan Wadsworth.
I did shake things up and do things differently. Our campaign had a real impact on this primary. We’ve laid a strong foundation for the future.
Our work is not done. My campaign manager and I have joined Morgan Wadsworth’s team, and we are working hard to help push her over the top. Our addition gives a big boost to her campaign’s capacity. We are committed to advancing the most competitive anti-establishment candidate into the general election.
I know that people disagree on who that candidate is, and I fully respect that. There are a surprising number of good candidates in this race, and solid reasons for backing each of them. It’s been a privilege to get to know almost all of them: they are good people. Having seen them all up close, I believe that Morgan Wadsworth has the best chance to flip and hold this seat and is the most likely to have an impact in Washington. Here’s why:
She is bold, fearless, and good at connecting with people across the spectrum. When a few of The People’s Democrats crashed a David Flippo event in Elko, she introduced herself by name without hesitation and waded right in. By the end, she was getting hugs, people were defending her, and she got invited onto a podcast. We need a candidate who can perform with right-leaning audiences.
People are drawn to her—especially young people. I’ve seen it in person more than once. They are excited by her candidacy and it gives them hope. Morgan understands their experience because she’s living it, and they need representation in Congress. We will not be able to flip and hold this district if we cannot excite the younger generations.
She doesn’t just talk about Nevadans’ struggles, she shares them. She lives in a converted garage in her fiancé’s family’s house because rent is unaffordable. She lost her insurance because of the ACA subsidy cuts and is back on Medicaid. She struggles with access to mental health providers for her autism and ADHD. She can’t afford the jaw surgery she needs to resolve her obstructive sleep apnea. She’s not just relatable, she can relate.
Her personal story is compelling. She may be young, but Morgan Wadswroth has survived a great deal. Her grandfather, who was often her primary caregiver, was shot in the head and experienced a lifetime of strokes because of it. Her father spent time in prison. Her mother is bipolar. Her autism and ADHD went undiagnosed until she was an adult. She will inherit none of her family’s ranch because she’s a woman. Morgan has excelled despite these things. She is tough, resilient, and not easily deterred.
She is the most authentically Nevada candidate on the Democratic side. One of the things I have learned during my campaign is just how important that is in this district, especially in the rural counties. It excites that Nevada pride and kinship for which there is no substitute.
She is a passionate advocate for fairness, justice, and well-being. She has been working for many weeks meeting with and advocating for communities around Yerington over their ongoing struggles with poisoned water. She’s using her platform to work for Nevadans right now, but she’s been hesitant to publicize it: she doesn’t want to appear to be doing it for her own gain. That’s the kind of person we need in Congress.
If elected, she would be the youngest member and youngest woman in Congress. That would bring national attention to this race, making it much easier for her to raise money and support. Her unique status would give her far more influence as a freshman congresswoman than any of the other candidates.
The party and the nation are in an anti-establishment mood and hungry for generational change. Morgan Wadsworth satisfies both desires.
Morgan’s 6th-generation ranching-family background negates Settlemeyer’s native Nevadan advantage, and gives her a potent weapon against Flippo’s carpetbagger status. She’s also the best contrast to either of them: dull establishment or MAGA conservative old man vs. smart, young, dynamic, blue Nevada woman. I like that matchup.
She has a strong understanding of Nevada GOP politics through her family. Her cousin came within a whisper of being the GOP state party chair. She is accepted in spaces where other Democrats are viewed with suspicion. That is a considerable asset in CD2.
I wholeheartedly endorse Morgan Wadsworth for Congress. She is an exceptional young woman with underappreciated strengths, and would be a formidable general election candidate and congresswoman. She would do northern Nevada proud.
Running for Congress here in CD2 has been the experience of a lifetime. Getting to know so many great people, connecting with so many different communities, traveling all over northern Nevada, and learning so much about this district has made me feel more at home here than any place I’ve ever lived. I had no idea just how good it would feel to be back. I’ve lived most of my life away only to discover that this is where I belong.
Thanks for the greatest homecoming a guy could hope for. I look forward to serving y’all in whatever ways I can!
- Josh Hebert