WHO I AM
I'm a retired Marine and a dad, not a career politician or a millionaire. Serving as a United States Marine taught me leadership, discipline, teamwork, and putting the needs of others before my own. Being a father humbled me, made me kinder, and gave me a fierce drive to protect children, youth, and vulnerable people who cannot defend themselves.
I was deployed during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Due to injuries sustained during my 17 year career, I went through dozens of surgeries and intense rehabilitation. Those injuries tested me more than anything else in my life, but they also showed me how much strength people can find when they have no choice but to keep going.
Due to my training, deployments, and rehabilitation, I became a trainer for the Marine Corps' Operational Stress Control and Response Program. I had the honor and privilege to educate and mentor battalions of service members on how to deal with combat stress. I spent my career leading and coaching service members of all ranks and services through conflict, personal struggles, and tough decisions; skills that translate directly to me leading Texas through its own challenges.
I know firsthand the struggles many Texans face every day, whether it's living with physical challenges, navigating our broken education system, affording healthcare and medicine, or just trying to make ends meet. Hell, I've been broke more often than I've been paid. That's why I don't believe political leaders need fat bank accounts, elite degrees, or corporate ties to be qualified for public service. Leaders need lived experience, empathy, and grit. That's what I bring to the table.
Why I'm Campaigning
My fellow Texans, I'm running for governor in 2026 because it's time for a change. We need leadership that actually listens, invests, and takes accountability.
The deadly winter blackout of 2022 was an embarrassment. Texans froze in their homes while Republican leaders protected energy corporations instead of people. The entire country still remembers how we failed to protect our citizens from a preventable crisis. The only blackout you'll see when I'm elected will be the lights going out in Greg Abbott's office for the last time.
The 2025 flooding in Central Texas was another disaster. Instead of working together to prevent future devastation, Republicans wasted time carrying out Donald Trump's unnecessary redistricting scheme. If hundreds of Texans dying in the cold and families losing everything in a flood isn't enough to get Texas Republicans off their asses, what makes us think they'll act the next time?
Texans are tired of the same politicians making excuses. I've been tired and skeptical too, but disengagement is too costly. Everyone has a voice and a vote, yet too many are being suppressed and silenced. That must end. As governor, I'll bring people together, listen with empathy, work with experts, and recruit the most ethical administrators to get real results for Texans.
Real Experience
I've spent my life fighting for what's right, from serving in combat to advocating for reforms and making sure veterans are cared for. I've been broke, frustrated with politics, and counted out. I know what it's like to struggle, and I know what it's like to lead people through tough times.
I'm not running to be your professor or your CEO. I'm running to be your governor; a public servant who knows what it's like to walk in your shoes. Texans don't need polished résumés or corporate connections in the governor's office. Texans need leadership that comes from real-world experience and real grit.
Semper Fi: Military Service and Leadership
Marine Corps Values
As a veteran, I understand leadership starts with an unshakable moral foundation. You cannot ask others to follow if you are not fair, honest, faithful, and brave.
Combat Leadership
I lead by making sound decisions, constantly improving, pushing through adversity, stepping up without being told, and acting boldly when needed.
Taking Care of Marines
A leader puts others first, treats people with respect, carries themselves with professionalism, and shows contagious energy that inspires the team.
Mission First
Good leadership means being reliable, taking the initiative, making sharp decisions, knowing your stuff, keeping people informed, and growing the next generation of leaders.
Personal Interests and Hobbies
Most politicians hide their hobbies. I won't. I enjoy video games, woodworking, Dungeons & Dragons, axe throwing, Warhammer (fantasy and 40K), getting creative with arts and crafts, and lifting weights. I'm 38 years old and I like being social, active, and having fun. Hobbies make me a healthier, more well-rounded human being.
At the end of the day, I'm not just running to be governor. I'm showing up as the same Nick you'd meet at a barbecue, at the gym, or rolling dice at a D&D table.
What Drives Me
Authenticity
Leadership means honesty. I am the same person with a billionaire or a grocery clerk, and I owe Texans the truth. What you see is what you get.
Servant Leadership
The Marine Corps taught me leadership is power used to serve others. As governor I will use that power for Texans, making decisions for the good of the people, not myself.
Getting Things Done
Texans need results, not empty promises. My job is to show up every day, do the work, and deliver progress for working families.
Fighting for the Underdog
I know what it means to struggle and be overlooked. As governor I will stand with working families and use the office to give them a fair shot.
My Vision for Texas
I believe in bold, common-sense reforms that ensure every Texan has the opportunity to thrive. Let's start with the basics: affordable housing, reliable utilities, clean water, top-notch schools, good jobs, healthcare, and safe, efficient transportation.
Nobody wants a handout. But every Texan deserves the tools to succeed. That means expanding healthcare, helping local businesses grow, guaranteeing fair pay and treatment on the job, and finally fixing our state's outdated infrastructure.
Texas should be a place where people respect each other, lift each other up, and act like good neighbors. I detest leaders who thrive on belittling others or assigning blame. As your governor, I'll model respect and empathy.
Thirty years of corruption and extremism have left Texas divided. Most Texans already agree on the problems. The real challenge is building consensus to solve them together. That's what I'll focus on as governor: leading with balance, pragmatism, and a commitment to all Texans.