🚫 Not fit for public office. Fewer than three stars, and a critical Article fails (Open Books). This isn’t a close call. Expect to hear from us — often.
Editorial opinion — our judgment against the Seven Articles, not a legal disqualification or an allegation of any crime. Ratings terms · Challenge this review
1Open Bookscritical
40%☆ not yet
“…the property of the people.” — Cicero, De Re Publica
Own campaign is 74.9% PAC, but Runs Keeping America Rolling PAC, a leadership PAC that accepts PAC/corporate contributions (OpenSecrets). Running a corporate-funded leadership PAC fails Open Books. (FEC/OpenSecrets 2026)
60
2Free & Fair Electionscritical
82%★ earned
“The ballot is stronger than the bullet.” — Abraham Lincoln
No 2020 election denial, no fake-elector role, and no documented support for partisan gerrymandering. (Jan 6 roll call; OpenSecrets; redistricting record)
60
3The Dignity of the Opponent
60%★ earned
“Treat humanity … always as an end and never as a means only.” — Kant
Standard partisan Ways and Means member; no sustained pattern of dehumanizing or vermin-class rhetoric documented against opponents.
60
4Fear Is Not Fuel
55%☆ not yet
“…the better angels of our nature.” — Lincoln, First Inaugural
Messaging leans on election-integrity and grievance framing, though he also pushes a substantive tax and trade agenda.
60
5Truth & a Kept Word
35%☆ not yet
“…living within the truth.” A representative owes “his judgment.” — Havel · Burke
Led Kelly v. Pennsylvania seeking to nullify 2020 results (courts rejected it); promoted unsubstantiated fraud claims and objected on Jan 6.
60
6Against the Spirit of Party
35%☆ not yet
“The baneful effects of the spirit of party.” — Washington, Farewell Address
Reliable party-line loyalist who joined the Trump campaign's election challenges; little documented independent breaking from his caucus.
60
7Morality
45%☆ not yet
“The time is always right to do what is right.” — Martin Luther King Jr.
July 2025 House Ethics Committee found substantial evidence he breached the code of conduct over his wife's Cleveland-Cliffs stock, reprimanding him.
60
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Scores are Independent 2026’s own editorial read against the Seven Articles — ≥60% earns the star. The first two Articles are critical: fail Open Books or Free & Fair Elections and there is no seal, whatever else holds. Each Article carries its founding quote as the yardstick. On bias →