We the People, not We the Parties.

Since entering politics, I’ve been called a lot of things: a RINO, a deep state operative, and a Koch brothers shill. But I’m none of those. I’m just a dad in search of representation.

Thomas Jefferson once said, “We are all Federalists; we are all Republicans.” But today, many have forgotten what that means. Jefferson and our founders believed in a balance of power: the executive branch serves the people from the top, and the legislative branch represents the people from the bottom. Yet, in our time, both parties have drifted toward focusing power in the presidency, leaving Congress—the heart of representative government—an afterthought.

I am a Republican in the truest sense of the word: I believe in representative government that divides, separates, and balances power. A government where the diverse views of the people are refined and debated in the legislature, not decreed by executive fiat. Yet, as America has grown, we’ve strayed from the fundamentals of representation that made our republic strong.

Representation is most effective when leaders depend on the people of their district to be elected to office. They represent both the interests of the people and the interests of the county. However, when representatives depend on parties and donors for re-election, they stop representing the district and start representing the interests that fund their campaigns and the party that secures their power.

In 1929, the House of Representatives was capped at 435 members. Since then, our population has more than tripled, and the size of congressional districts has exploded. This growth has diluted representation, encouraged gerrymandering, and severed communication between citizens and their representatives.

Take Illinois, for example. Its congressional map is a patchwork of bizarre shapes, designed not for representation but for partisan gain. The result? Confusion, frustration, and a growing sense of alienation among voters. Many Americans don’t know who represents them—and the media doesn’t help, as its focus remains fixated on the presidency.

This is not how a representative republic is supposed to work. Representation is how we, the people, govern ourselves. It is through our representatives—not the president—that our voices are meant to be heard. Yet, as representation erodes, many feel the system is rigged and broken. This frustration feeds the rise of radical leaders and ideas that aim to control, not empower.

If we want to reclaim our power as citizens, we must shift our focus away from the presidency and back to representation. Look up your representative. Send them an email or give them a call. Ask them this simple question: Will you work to restore representation and return power to the people?

The change we need starts with us. Representation is not just a principle—it is our right.

Peace and Love,

Jeff Mayhugh