The Mission
"I am running for Congress as an Independent to break the partisan tug-of-war and return power to the people. My mission is to build a Prosperity-First Economy by replacing 'one-size-fits-all' policies with common-sense solutions. My proposals include a three-tiered corporate tax code that lets small businesses compete and individual tax reform that removes the federal government from your pocket by moving all individual tax collection to the states. I'm proposing a state-led healthcare coalition that decouples health insurance from employment for residents in member states. I believe by doing this we can lower the cost of living, empower our local communities and move our nation forward, un-shackled from party machines and beholden only to the citizens of the district. I'm running a campaign like you've never seen before with proposals that finally don't seem like a copy and paste from all other past candidates with a goal of changing politics in America once and for all"
-Derek Fleming
A different kind of campaign.
We are running a campaign like you’ve never seen before centered around community, not money. That’s why we ask for 20 minutes not 20 dollars. Let’s make elections about the people again and show the rest of America what true "for the people" representation looks like. Together we can change politics in America once and for all, but we need each and every one of you to give your 20 minutes a week to make it happen. Without this team we may never see real change in this country so I would love if you would join our team. Thank you.
Getting Big and Dark Money Out of Our Elections
Taking money from big corporations, billionaires, PACs and special interest groups is a choice, not a requirement. If the democrats truly believed in ending citizens united, they would lead by example and simply refuse or ban big and dark money in their party.
Banning Stock Trading by Elected Officials
All elected officials and cabinet members should be banned from trading individual stocks so they can’t profit from insider knowledge. My opponent has had 19 stock act violations for late disclosure filings and was briefly investigated for insider trading before it was swept under the rug.
Ending Gerrymandering with Fair Districts
Districts will be drawn using Census data, AI, and simple square or rectangle shapes, so voters pick their leaders not the other way around. No carve outs or loopholes that will benefit one party over the other. Just straight forward fair maps across the country.
My belifes about changing the status quo:
Over the last year as I began thinking about running for office, I found myself thinking a lot about why the "kitchen table" issues seem to never change here in America. The more I thought about it and researched these issues I couldn't help but come to the same conclusion. If we don't start by fixing the foundation of our government, how it is structured and how it operates then no changes will ever last and turn into the solutions we need. The chain on the bike is broken and our politicians on both sides just want to change the tires and call it a fix. We need to fix the chain first or nothing else will work as intended. Our country needs bi-partisan legislation that provides solutions that will stand the test of time instead of partisan band-aides that appease the fringes of the two-party system while empowering the other fringe to dig in even more.
I know what I am trying to do here seems crazy, going up against the political machine with no political experience, no big financial backers and no name recognition but someone new needed to stand up and say enough is enough, so here I am. I know it might be weird making political posts online for the first time in your life or having political discussions with friends or family that you've never talked with about these things before. I'm asking you to get out of your comfort zone so we can enact real meaningful change to a system that really needs it. I heard a saying a while back that says, "Everything you've ever wanted is just outside your comfort zone" and that saying rings so true with this moment right now. So, I'm asking you to get out of your political comfort zone and help us bring true meaningful and lasting change to Washington.
Where to Find Derek
Unlike most candidates, I'm not independently wealthy and I don't have rich parents to pay my bills while I campaign for office. So, I will continue working my full-time job as a small business owner while I run. Most days you can find me behind the counter at Thrive in Arlington, serving up amazing sandwiches, wraps, smoothies and juices and doing what I love. Much like 1/3 of all Americans in 2026 and nearly half of all small business owners, I also work a side hustle during my slower months at the Thrive. So, you can also catch me delivering packages as a contractor for Amazon in the afternoons after I clean and close up the shop for the day. You'll see me running from house to house in the neighborhoods around my business like a high-speed mail man. After that, I'll be spending nights and weekends trying to talk to as many people in district as I possibly can and I encourage people to come chat with me at the shop, no purchase necessary.
Get in Touch with the Campaign
In my view a political job history, being a lawyer or being a Harvard grad are not requirements to being a US Rep. To me the only requirements are the things we don't see much of right now. Honesty, Transparency, Accountability to the people and the ability to listen.
I believe US Representatives shouldn't spend 4 hours a day dialing for dollars, that time belongs to you the people and I'll take back that time and devote it to bettering your life, not padding my campaign and party bank accounts.
Email: campaign@derekforcongress.com