Brendyn Morgan

[{"question": "Ballotpedia survey responses", "answer_html": "<p>See also: <a href=\"/Ballotpedia%27s_Candidate_Connection\">Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection</a></p>\n<div class=\"row\"><div class=\"col-xs-10 col-md-6 col-xs-offset-1 col-md-offset-3\"><p><a href=\"https://ballotpedia.org/Ballotpedia%27s_Candidate_Connection\"><img align=\"middle\" alt=\"Candidate Connection\" src=\"https://cdn.ballotpedia.org/images/8/88/Candidate_Connection_Logo.png\" width=\"90%\"/></a></p></div></div>\n<p>Brendyn Morgan completed <a href=\"/Ballotpedia%27s_Candidate_Connection\">Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection</a> survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Morgan's responses.</p>\n<p><span class=\"expand-all\">Expand all</span> | <span class=\"collapse-all\">Collapse all</span></p>\n<div aria-multiselectable=\"true\" class=\"panel-group\" id=\"accordion\" role=\"tablist\"><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-bio-359533-2025-10-08\" id=\"heading-bio-359533-2025-10-08\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse-bio-359533-2025-10-08\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-bio-359533-2025-10-08\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWho are you? Tell us about yourself.\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading-bio-359533-2025-10-08\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse-bio-359533-2025-10-08\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tI’m Brendyn Morgan, an Army veteran, public servant, and lifelong Midwesterner running to represent Illinois' 16th Congressional District. I grew up in a black/brown family that had to fight to stay afloat while politicians looked the other way. That experience drives me to build a government that actually works for the people who make this country run.\r\n<p>After serving in the U.S. Army, I came home determined to keep serving my community. I worked in logistics, public housing, and student transportation, where I saw firsthand how broken systems can hold people back.\r\nI earned my bachelor’s degree using Military Tuition Assistance and will soon earn a master’s degree with the help of my GI Bill.\r\n</p>\nIt was through all this work and conviction that I became inspired to run!\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-key-message-359533-2025-10-08\" id=\"heading-key-message-359533-2025-10-08\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse-key-message-359533-2025-10-08\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse-key-message-359533-2025-10-08\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tPlease list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading-key-message-359533-2025-10-08\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse-key-message-359533-2025-10-08\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\"><ul><li>I’m running to rebuild the middle class by investing in small towns, family farms, and local businesses instead of billionaires and corporate lobbyists. Our economy should reward hard work and community, not greed and exploitation.</li><li>As a veteran, I know what real service looks like. Congress should fight for people, not donors. I’ll work to make sure every veteran, worker, and family gets the healthcare, education, and fair wages they’ve earned. I'll also fight tirelessly to end their chokehold on US elections.</li><li>We’re taking power back from the elites who’ve turned our government into their playground. This campaign is about doing what's right, regardless of establishment partisan pressure. We’re building a people’s movement that puts working Americans first.</li></ul></span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse1-359533-2025-10-08\" id=\"heading1-359533-2025-10-08\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse1-359533-2025-10-08\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse1-359533-2025-10-08\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading1-359533-2025-10-08\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse1-359533-2025-10-08\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tI’m focused on rebuilding the American economy from the ground up. That starts with strengthening local agriculture so small and mid-size farmers can compete and thrive again. I want to reform healthcare so every American can afford to see a doctor without going into debt. I’m also committed to improving public education, expanding trade and apprenticeship programs, and raising teacher pay so our schools prepare students for real opportunity.<br/>\r\nAs a veteran, I’m fighting to overhaul how we treat service members and their families (mental healthcare, housing, job placement). I’m also passionately focused on labor rights, renewable energy, and fair taxation, so our economy rewards work instead of wealth hoarding.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse2-359533-2025-10-08\" id=\"heading2-359533-2025-10-08\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse2-359533-2025-10-08\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse2-359533-2025-10-08\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading2-359533-2025-10-08\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse2-359533-2025-10-08\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tThe job of a Member of Congress is to serve the people with integrity, discipline, and accountability. The role demands someone who listens to their communities, studies the issues, and works every day to improve the quality of life for the people they represent.<br/><br/>\n<p>A representative should be visible, informed, and accessible. That means holding town halls, visiting schools and workplaces, and staying engaged with local governments to make sure federal resources are reaching the district. It also means standing up to waste, fraud, and political games that get in the way of progress.<br/><br/>\r\nCongress holds immense power over the nation’s future, and it has a duty to use that power responsibly. That includes crafting sound legislation, conducting strong oversight of federal agencies, and managing taxpayer dollars wisely.<br/><br/>\n</p>\nPublic office is not a personal title or a stepping stone. It’s a responsibility. The people of Illinois’ 16th District deserve a representative who treats that responsibility with seriousness and humility every single day.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse3-359533-2025-10-08\" id=\"heading3-359533-2025-10-08\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse3-359533-2025-10-08\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse3-359533-2025-10-08\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat legacy would you like to leave?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading3-359533-2025-10-08\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse3-359533-2025-10-08\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tI want my legacy to be about rebuilding trust and achieving peace. Somewhere along the way, politics stopped feeling like service, so I want to help change that.<br/><br/>\r\nIf nothing else, I want people to see that you don’t have to come from power to make a difference. I want kids who look like me, or who come from the same kind of backgrounds, to know that they can take up as much space as anyone else.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse4-359533-2025-10-08\" id=\"heading4-359533-2025-10-08\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse4-359533-2025-10-08\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse4-359533-2025-10-08\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading4-359533-2025-10-08\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse4-359533-2025-10-08\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tThe first historical event that I remember were the attacks on 9/11. I was six years old, and I didn’t really understand what was happening. But I remember how that day felt, seeing teachers and parents try to explain something that didn’t make sense.<br/><br/>\n<p>As I got older, I understood the weight of it. I was able to grasp the fear, confusion, and anger that followed. But what stuck with me most wasn’t just the tragedy; admittedly, it was how people came together afterward. For a little while, it felt like everyone remembered that we actually need each other to progress.<br/><br/>\n</p>\nThat moment shaped how I see service. It showed me how fragile peace is, and even-more-so how quickly fear can change a nation. It’s part of why I joined the Army later in life. I wanted to serve and to do my part in holding on to the kind of unity we only seem to find when things fall apart.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse5-359533-2025-10-08\" id=\"heading5-359533-2025-10-08\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse5-359533-2025-10-08\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse5-359533-2025-10-08\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat is something that has been a struggle in your life?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading5-359533-2025-10-08\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse5-359533-2025-10-08\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tMy biggest struggle has been learning how to keep going when life keeps throwing curveballs. I’ve had to rebuild more times than I can count (financially, emotionally, heck even spiritually). Balancing school, community service, work, social ties, personal aspirations, etc. wasn’t ever easy. There were nights I didn’t sleep, and there were weeks I didn’t know how I’d make rent, and there were moments where quitting felt like the only sane option. But every time I got knocked down, I learned something valuable.<br/><br/>\r\nI think that’s why I care so much about the systems we build. I’ve lived what it feels like to fall through the cracks, and I don’t want anyone else to feel that helpless.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse6-359533-2025-10-08\" id=\"heading6-359533-2025-10-08\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse6-359533-2025-10-08\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse6-359533-2025-10-08\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat do you perceive to be the United States' greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading6-359533-2025-10-08\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse6-359533-2025-10-08\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tThe next decade will test our ability to rebuild trust, fairness, and stability across every level of society. The greatest challenge we face is the growing gap between those who hold power and those who live with the consequences of their decisions.<br/><br/>\n<p>Economically, we need to strengthen the middle class by rebuilding domestic manufacturing, supporting small businesses, and improving workforce training. Our nation can’t compete globally if our own workers are struggling to survive. Healthcare, housing, and education costs have pushed millions to the brink. We need a new generation of policies that put families, workers, and small communities back on solid ground.<br/><br/>\r\nWe also face a generational test on climate and sustainability. That means investing in renewable energy, improving water and soil conservation, and supporting farmers who are on the front lines of climate change.<br/><br/>\n</p>\nMost of all, we need to restore trust in our institutions. People deserve a government that tells the truth, manages money responsibly, and works together to solve problems instead of performing for cameras. That is the kind of leadership this moment demands.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse7-359533-2025-10-08\" id=\"heading7-359533-2025-10-08\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse7-359533-2025-10-08\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse7-359533-2025-10-08\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tWhat are your thoughts on term limits?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading7-359533-2025-10-08\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse7-359533-2025-10-08\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tELECTED/APPOINTED OFFICE IS NOT A LIFELONG CAREER!\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse8-359533-2025-10-08\" id=\"heading8-359533-2025-10-08\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse8-359533-2025-10-08\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse8-359533-2025-10-08\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tIs there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading8-359533-2025-10-08\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse8-359533-2025-10-08\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tI look up to the leaders who carried truth even when it cost them everything. People like Shirley Chisholm, John Lewis, Barbara Lee, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. They’ve all shown what it means to serve with conviction instead of fear.<br/><br/>\n<p>Shirley Chisholm proved that representation means nothing without courage. She never waited for permission to lead.<br/>\r\nJohn Lewis taught this country the meaning of moral clarity through action instead of speeches.<br/>\r\nBarbara Lee stood alone against war because she refused to abandon her values when it mattered most.<br/>\r\nAlexandria Ocasio-Cortez reminds us that politics can still have heart. She taught me that you can fight for working people, speak plainly, and stay grounded in community no matter how loud the opposition gets.<br/><br/>\r\nEach of them reminds me that leadership isn’t about comfort or career. They help me remember that my conscience is my compass. That's why I'm willing to tell the truth, even when it’s unpopular.<br/>\n</p>\nMost importantly, they inspire me to stand my ground when others fall in line. That’s the kind of example I carry with me every day.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse9-359533-2025-10-08\" id=\"heading9-359533-2025-10-08\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse9-359533-2025-10-08\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse9-359533-2025-10-08\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tBoth sitting representatives and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading9-359533-2025-10-08\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse9-359533-2025-10-08\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tI spoke with a woman who told me her husband had been skipping his medication because they couldn’t afford the refills. She said they’d started splitting pills to make them last longer. What's worse was that their employer provided insurance (from their full time jobs) was not enough to help.<br/><br/>\r\nShe said they were \"doing everything we’re supposed to, but it feels like the system’s set up to break people like us.” That hit me deeply because It’s one thing to read about rising healthcare costs... It’s a whole other feeling to look someone in the eye and see what it’s physically/mentally doing to them. Nobody should have to endure this much just to stay alive. That conversation sticks with me every time I think about why our work matters.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse10-359533-2025-10-08\" id=\"heading10-359533-2025-10-08\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse10-359533-2025-10-08\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse10-359533-2025-10-08\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tDo you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading10-359533-2025-10-08\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse10-359533-2025-10-08\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tCompromise is part of governing, and it’s necessary when it brings real progress. The best policies come from debate, cooperation, and a willingness to listen. I’m willing to work with anyone who’s serious about solving problems, regardless of party or ideology.<br/><br/>\n<p>That doesn’t mean surrendering principles. It means finding common ground on goals that matter to the public. Rebuilding infrastructure, lowering healthcare costs, supporting veterans, and creating good jobs are priorities that should unite leaders across the aisle.<br/><br/>\n</p>\nIn the Army, I learned that people from every background can accomplish great things when they share a mission. Public service is no different. Our job in Congress is to focus on outcomes, not headlines, and to build solutions that actually improve people’s lives.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse11-359533-2025-10-08\" id=\"heading11-359533-2025-10-08\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse11-359533-2025-10-08\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse11-359533-2025-10-08\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tThe Constitution says that all bills for raising revenue must originate in the House. What role would this power play in your priorities if elected?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading11-359533-2025-10-08\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse11-359533-2025-10-08\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tThe House’s power over revenue is one of the clearest ways to shape America’s priorities. How we collect and spend money says everything about who we value as a nation. I would use that power to rebalance our economy so that working people and small businesses finally get a fair deal.<br/><br/>\n<p>Our current tax code rewards corporations that move jobs overseas and billionaires who avoid paying their share. That needs to change. Revenue policy should reward productivity, innovation, and community investment. It should make it easier for families to own homes and build wealth.<br/><br/>\r\nI’d also focus on cutting wasteful spending that benefits special interests while protecting programs that people rely on. Every dollar in the federal budget should serve a public purpose. Whether that’s rebuilding infrastructure or strengthening schools, my belief is that Congress must hold true to this value.<br/><br/>\n</p>\nThis specific Congressional power is about setting priorities. My goal is to create a system that gives every American a fair chance to succeed while holding those at the top accountable to the same rules as everyone else.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div><div class=\"panel panel-default\"><div class=\"panel-heading\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse12-359533-2025-10-08\" id=\"heading12-359533-2025-10-08\" role=\"tab\"><p class=\"panel-title\" style=\"font-size: 14px;font-weight: 600;\"><a aria-controls=\"collapse12-359533-2025-10-08\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"collapsed\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapse12-359533-2025-10-08\" role=\"button\"><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-right pull-right\"></i><i class=\"fa fa-chevron-down pull-right\"></i>\t\t\t\tHow should the U.S. House use its investigative powers?\t\t\t</a></p></div><div aria-labelledby=\"heading12-359533-2025-10-08\" class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"collapse12-359533-2025-10-08\" role=\"tabpanel\"><div class=\"panel-body\" style=\"max-height: 500px; overflow-y: scroll;\"><div class=\"answers-container\"><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">\t\t\t\tThe House’s investigative powers are one of the most important tools for accountability in a democracy. They exist to make sure the government serves the people honestly and transparently. Investigations shouldn’t be used as political theater. They should be used to expose corruption, protect taxpayer money, and ensure no agency, corporation, or elected official operates above the law.<br/><br/>\n<p>When the House uses its authority properly, it strengthens public trust. I believe these powers should focus on issues that directly affect the public: price gouging by corporations, wasteful defense contracts, government inefficiency, and violations of civil rights. We need real oversight on how tax dollars are spent and whether policies are producing the results Americans were promised.<br/><br/>\n</p>\nThe power to investigate should be used to clean up government, not weaponize it. When Congress leads with facts and fairness, it not only restores credibility but also reinforces the idea that public office is about service instead of self-interest.\t\t\t</span></div></div></div></div></div>\n<div class=\"small\" data-nosnippet=\"\"><p><i><b>Note:</b> Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.</i></p></div>", "answer_text": "See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection\n\nBrendyn Morgan completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Morgan's responses.\nExpand all | Collapse all\nWho are you? Tell us about yourself. I’m Brendyn Morgan, an Army veteran, public servant, and lifelong Midwesterner running to represent Illinois' 16th Congressional District. I grew up in a black/brown family that had to fight to stay afloat while politicians looked the other way. That experience drives me to build a government that actually works for the people who make this country run. After serving in the U.S. Army, I came home determined to keep serving my community. I worked in logistics, public housing, and student transportation, where I saw firsthand how broken systems can hold people back.\r\nI earned my bachelor’s degree using Military Tuition Assistance and will soon earn a master’s degree with the help of my GI Bill. It was through all this work and conviction that I became inspired to run! Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office? I’m running to rebuild the middle class by investing in small towns, family farms, and local businesses instead of billionaires and corporate lobbyists. Our economy should reward hard work and community, not greed and exploitation. As a veteran, I know what real service looks like. Congress should fight for people, not donors. I’ll work to make sure every veteran, worker, and family gets the healthcare, education, and fair wages they’ve earned. I'll also fight tirelessly to end their chokehold on US elections. We’re taking power back from the elites who’ve turned our government into their playground. This campaign is about doing what's right, regardless of establishment partisan pressure. We’re building a people’s movement that puts working Americans first. What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? I’m focused on rebuilding the American economy from the ground up. That starts with strengthening local agriculture so small and mid-size farmers can compete and thrive again. I want to reform healthcare so every American can afford to see a doctor without going into debt. I’m also committed to improving public education, expanding trade and apprenticeship programs, and raising teacher pay so our schools prepare students for real opportunity. As a veteran, I’m fighting to overhaul how we treat service members and their families (mental healthcare, housing, job placement). I’m also passionately focused on labor rights, renewable energy, and fair taxation, so our economy rewards work instead of wealth hoarding. What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office? The job of a Member of Congress is to serve the people with integrity, discipline, and accountability. The role demands someone who listens to their communities, studies the issues, and works every day to improve the quality of life for the people they represent. A representative should be visible, informed, and accessible. That means holding town halls, visiting schools and workplaces, and staying engaged with local governments to make sure federal resources are reaching the district. It also means standing up to waste, fraud, and political games that get in the way of progress. Congress holds immense power over the nation’s future, and it has a duty to use that power responsibly. That includes crafting sound legislation, conducting strong oversight of federal agencies, and managing taxpayer dollars wisely. Public office is not a personal title or a stepping stone. It’s a responsibility. The people of Illinois’ 16th District deserve a representative who treats that responsibility with seriousness and humility every single day. What legacy would you like to leave? I want my legacy to be about rebuilding trust and achieving peace. Somewhere along the way, politics stopped feeling like service, so I want to help change that. If nothing else, I want people to see that you don’t have to come from power to make a difference. I want kids who look like me, or who come from the same kind of backgrounds, to know that they can take up as much space as anyone else. What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time? The first historical event that I remember were the attacks on 9/11. I was six years old, and I didn’t really understand what was happening. But I remember how that day felt, seeing teachers and parents try to explain something that didn’t make sense. As I got older, I understood the weight of it. I was able to grasp the fear, confusion, and anger that followed. But what stuck with me most wasn’t just the tragedy; admittedly, it was how people came together afterward. For a little while, it felt like everyone remembered that we actually need each other to progress. That moment shaped how I see service. It showed me how fragile peace is, and even-more-so how quickly fear can change a nation. It’s part of why I joined the Army later in life. I wanted to serve and to do my part in holding on to the kind of unity we only seem to find when things fall apart. What is something that has been a struggle in your life? My biggest struggle has been learning how to keep going when life keeps throwing curveballs. I’ve had to rebuild more times than I can count (financially, emotionally, heck even spiritually). Balancing school, community service, work, social ties, personal aspirations, etc. wasn’t ever easy. There were nights I didn’t sleep, and there were weeks I didn’t know how I’d make rent, and there were moments where quitting felt like the only sane option. But every time I got knocked down, I learned something valuable. I think that’s why I care so much about the systems we build. I’ve lived what it feels like to fall through the cracks, and I don’t want anyone else to feel that helpless. What do you perceive to be the United States' greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade? The next decade will test our ability to rebuild trust, fairness, and stability across every level of society. The greatest challenge we face is the growing gap between those who hold power and those who live with the consequences of their decisions. Economically, we need to strengthen the middle class by rebuilding domestic manufacturing, supporting small businesses, and improving workforce training. Our nation can’t compete globally if our own workers are struggling to survive. Healthcare, housing, and education costs have pushed millions to the brink. We need a new generation of policies that put families, workers, and small communities back on solid ground. We also face a generational test on climate and sustainability. That means investing in renewable energy, improving water and soil conservation, and supporting farmers who are on the front lines of climate change. Most of all, we need to restore trust in our institutions. People deserve a government that tells the truth, manages money responsibly, and works together to solve problems instead of performing for cameras. That is the kind of leadership this moment demands. What are your thoughts on term limits? ELECTED/APPOINTED OFFICE IS NOT A LIFELONG CAREER! Is there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after? I look up to the leaders who carried truth even when it cost them everything. People like Shirley Chisholm, John Lewis, Barbara Lee, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. They’ve all shown what it means to serve with conviction instead of fear. Shirley Chisholm proved that representation means nothing without courage. She never waited for permission to lead. John Lewis taught this country the meaning of moral clarity through action instead of speeches. Barbara Lee stood alone against war because she refused to abandon her values when it mattered most. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez reminds us that politics can still have heart. She taught me that you can fight for working people, speak plainly, and stay grounded in community no matter how loud the opposition gets. Each of them reminds me that leadership isn’t about comfort or career. They help me remember that my conscience is my compass. That's why I'm willing to tell the truth, even when it’s unpopular. Most importantly, they inspire me to stand my ground when others fall in line. That’s the kind of example I carry with me every day. Both sitting representatives and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful? I spoke with a woman who told me her husband had been skipping his medication because they couldn’t afford the refills. She said they’d started splitting pills to make them last longer. What's worse was that their employer provided insurance (from their full time jobs) was not enough to help. She said they were \"doing everything we’re supposed to, but it feels like the system’s set up to break people like us.” That hit me deeply because It’s one thing to read about rising healthcare costs... It’s a whole other feeling to look someone in the eye and see what it’s physically/mentally doing to them. Nobody should have to endure this much just to stay alive. That conversation sticks with me every time I think about why our work matters. Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking? Compromise is part of governing, and it’s necessary when it brings real progress. The best policies come from debate, cooperation, and a willingness to listen. I’m willing to work with anyone who’s serious about solving problems, regardless of party or ideology. That doesn’t mean surrendering principles. It means finding common ground on goals that matter to the public. Rebuilding infrastructure, lowering healthcare costs, supporting veterans, and creating good jobs are priorities that should unite leaders across the aisle. In the Army, I learned that people from every background can accomplish great things when they share a mission. Public service is no different. Our job in Congress is to focus on outcomes, not headlines, and to build solutions that actually improve people’s lives. The Constitution says that all bills for raising revenue must originate in the House. What role would this power play in your priorities if elected? The House’s power over revenue is one of the clearest ways to shape America’s priorities. How we collect and spend money says everything about who we value as a nation. I would use that power to rebalance our economy so that working people and small businesses finally get a fair deal. Our current tax code rewards corporations that move jobs overseas and billionaires who avoid paying their share. That needs to change. Revenue policy should reward productivity, innovation, and community investment. It should make it easier for families to own homes and build wealth. I’d also focus on cutting wasteful spending that benefits special interests while protecting programs that people rely on. Every dollar in the federal budget should serve a public purpose. Whether that’s rebuilding infrastructure or strengthening schools, my belief is that Congress must hold true to this value. This specific Congressional power is about setting priorities. My goal is to create a system that gives every American a fair chance to succeed while holding those at the top accountable to the same rules as everyone else. How should the U.S. House use its investigative powers? The House’s investigative powers are one of the most important tools for accountability in a democracy. They exist to make sure the government serves the people honestly and transparently. Investigations shouldn’t be used as political theater. They should be used to expose corruption, protect taxpayer money, and ensure no agency, corporation, or elected official operates above the law. When the House uses its authority properly, it strengthens public trust. I believe these powers should focus on issues that directly affect the public: price gouging by corporations, wasteful defense contracts, government inefficiency, and violations of civil rights. We need real oversight on how tax dollars are spent and whether policies are producing the results Americans were promised. The power to investigate should be used to clean up government, not weaponize it. When Congress leads with facts and fairness, it not only restores credibility but also reinforces the idea that public office is about service instead of self-interest.\nNote: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it."}]