Jeff Dove isn't like many men and women who go to Washington D.C. because Jeff Dove is far from your typical political type. Growing up under the care and guidance of a single mother in Virginia, Jeff moved around so often he had attended five high schools in less than four years. Jeff could have grown callous and withdrawn, but there was a part of him that always wanted to embrace the community around him.

In 2004, Jeff joined the US Army where he served in Operation Iraqi Freedom, and after returning home he completed his BS in Information Systems from Strayer University and found employment in the private sector. Things for Jeff could have been easy at this point, especially since he recently within the last several years got married and more recently had his first child, but Jeff still felt he was called to be a public servant.

This call to action is what led Jeff to announce he was running for the US House of Representatives in the 2018 midterms, during a time of massive political and cultural change where many Americans are questioning whether either of the two major parties can deliver on any major promise. I've had an opportunity to host Jeff on my podcast before but wanted to dive deeper into some topics in order to clarify his vision for the future of the conservative movement and American people as a whole.

Remso: Jeff thank you for joining us today.

Jeff Dove: Good to be with you again Remso.

Remso: The first year of the Trump administration is finally in the books and many conservative voters feel like Republicans could have done more to lead the way since they hold immense electoral power in both federal houses and in a majority of the states. Could they have achieved more or will massive change take time?

Jeff Dove: Well, outside of the opportunity that the reconciliation provided to pass meaningful tax reform, the electoral edge in the Senate still remains closed. And as we’ve seen with both the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act *and* the recent vote to keep the Federal Government open, Democrats are willing to play the obstructionist to the point of shutting down military pay and national parks - there’s only so many legislative approaches to such a scenario. No matter how strong the majority in the House, the Senate truly is the limiting factor for serious policy change.

Remso: The media has an obvious bias against Republicans, but where are some areas of criticisms where Democrats may have a valid point?

Jeff Dove: Republicans have a messaging problem. The Democrat party and its members have spent countless dollars and media hours lying to the American people. Their goal is convincing Americans, especially minorities, that Republicans and the President are somehow racist, bigoted, and working against their interests. Nothing is more false. Republicans need to improve outreach to minority voters, who share conservative social and economic values.

Right now, in part the the effects of the tax policy on hiring and businesses, black and hispanic unemployment is at the lowest rate since measurement began. This hard fact should be the spearhead of an improved messaging effort from the Republicans.

Remso: This election and elections going forward will have potentially a majority of millennial voters for the first time in my generation, do you feel the Republicans have the policies that best seek to find solutions to the challenges millennials face? Such as student debt and a future where we might not see Social Security checks come our way when it is our turn to retire?

Jeff Dove: Depending on whose cutoff you take, I’m a millennial myself, born in in 1981. I’ve also been a Republican for as I can remember, and the main driver behind my being Republican is my faith. As for social security, the number one goal for the SSA is analogous to border security: once the system is secure and people’s identities aren’t being stolen, then we can begin setting policies in place to change outcomes. There’s no point in trying to figure out how to add more water into a leaky bowl unless you plug the leak first.

Remso: While it was not mentioned much in the 2016 election cycle, many conservative millennials are nervous that within our lifetime we will see hyperinflation due to the abuse of our fiat currency caused by the Federal Reserve. Because of this, more and more young people are developing interest and investing in cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin. What is your opinion of our current monetary policy in place and does the public have the right to have the government's hands off our crytpo?

Jeff Dove: Our generation faces a fiscal cliff, and currency and inflation certainly play a part in that concern. Regarding cryptocurrency, I say we’re just seeing the beginning of that sector’s development, and will continue to see innovation with benefit to numerous other aspects of the economy, including investment alternatives. With a background in the technology side of the finance industry, it’s an exciting time to see what a new generation and new minds come up with to solve long-standing issues.

Remso: My generation has spent our entire lives interlocked in several massive wars in the Middle East. Both younger Republicans and Democrats agree now is time to bring our troops home from most theaters of operation while evaluating our interventionist foreign policy. As a veteran yourself, are we playing smartly with our military might or do we need to draw back more?

Jeff Dove: As a combat veteran, one aspect that I love about this current administration is the dramatic change in the approach to handling military operations. Secretary Mattis is relying on the general officers on the ground to make the tactical decisions rather than a top-down bureaucratic approach to everything.

We would all prefer that our troops be home with their families, but there are a few theaters worldwide that will require our attention in order to keep threats from making it to our shores.

Remso: What are some issues you feel you can lead on where other Republicans haven't taken the opportunity?

Jeff Dove: It’s not just Republicans: it’s generations of legislators who simply haven’t thought outside the box and made the most of today’s available resources. Coming from an IT and military background, I realize the need to bring modern technology to federal policy. Security issues like dual-factor authentication and logistics optimizations like telework need to be incorporated sooner rather than later, and this is a challenge I intend to address my first year in office.

Remso: Who are some serving members of Congress you look forward to working with if elected?

Jeff Dove: Will Hurd would be a good representative to work with based on our shared IT backgrounds. I especially look forward to working with the entire Virginia delegation as we’re a fast growing and dynamic economy, and there are quite a few goals that can be agreed upon to help the Commonwealth of Virginia move forward.

Remso: Who is your favorite President?

Jeff Dove: I would have to say Reagan. One of the biggest reasons is because I saw him and his policies in action as a child, and could see positive results even then. As I learned more about his life, I realized that he did not come from the typical elite lineage of most Presidents.

President Reagan decided he wanted to make a difference, left his career in acting, and went on to become one of the most influential Presidents in history. From Hollywood to bringing down Communism, he is the perfect example of how far hard work and perseverance can take you to regardless of humble beginnings.

Remso: What is your message to politically apathetic voters who question whether their vote matters?

Jeff Dove: I think voters in my district right here in Fairfax and Prince William counties don’t have to look far. There were several recounts in the 2017 Virginia House of Delegates elections, and one race came down to one vote and a coin toss. Aside from that reminder that every vote does in fact count, voting is how you change your community and have a voice in your government.

We’ve seen what smart policy can do for your average worker with the number of companies raising wages and giving bonuses. I want to meet my constituents and hear what they’re looking for in a Congressman, and I will be holding at least one town hall every month.

Every voice matters, and one reason I’m running is that the current congressman in VA-11 was unchallenged in 2016, and I believe, regardless of what party one belongs to, no seat should go uncontested. The people deserve a choice AND a voice.

To learn more about Jeff Dove visit his website at www.doveforcongress.com