Name *
John Teichert
Age *
51
Office Sought *
U.S. Senate
Political Party *
Republican
Education *
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (B.S.); Stanford University (M.S.)
Career and Occupation:
I am the Founder and President of Capital Leadership LLC – a small business dedicated to developing the leaders that our nation needs. I spent the last 33 years in the United States Air Force as a fighter pilot, a test pilot, and our nation’s senior defense official to Iraq. I also led as the Commander of Joint Base Andrews and Edwards Air Force Base. I retired from more than three decades of service in 2022 with the rank of Brigadier General after leading international affairs for the U.S Air Force and U.S. Space Force as the Assistant Deputy Undersecretary of the Air Force, International Affairs.
Political Experience:
I have never run for political office, though I have successfully led in highly-charged political environments, including critical positions in the Pentagon and as the Commander of Joint Base Andrews. The country is thirsting for leadership, not politics. My extensive leadership background includes expertise in the diplomatic, intelligence, military, and economic instruments of power, from cutting-edge technology to our nation’s most sensitive international relationships. I have a long history of working with a variety of people, while successfully leading massive organizations and carefully stewarding multi-billion dollar budgets, to implement real solutions to real problems.
Website *
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Public Twitter Handle
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Public TikTok Handle
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Other Public Social Media Accounts
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Why are you running for office?
I love the United States of America and the state of Maryland. I have spent a lifetime relentlessly pursuing my oath to Support and Defend the Constitution of the United States. Unfortunately, politicians are squandering the American Dream and diverting us from the promise of this great nation. I am here to wrestle our nation back to where we belong and revive the foundational principles of our amazing experiment in liberty.
Who do you consider your political role model, and why? *
Ronald Reagan took office at a time of waning hope in the principles of America and reignited the promises of the American Dream. He inspired our population and unshackled individuals, families and businesses that had been burdened by governmental overreach. He solved real problems through conservative principles and by bringing people together from across all walks of life.
What is your favorite book about politics and policy, and why? *
“American Generalship: Character is Everything” by Edgar Puryear is my favorite leadership book. While not a policy or political book per se, it is in the most basic sense. After all, at its core, politics is about group decision-making to produce human flourishing. Leadership strives for the same, and this book provides a brilliant summary of timeless, effective leadership principles buoyed by powerful historical examples from modern history.
What will be your top priority in office? *
The biggest threat to our nation is our political dysfunction. We have too many politicians unwilling to work to find common ground on a variety of issues, whether it’s our porous southern border, unsustainable overspending, failing educational systems, impotent national security policy, or the surge in crime we see across the country. We need leaders, not politicians,
who are willing to find consensus on these issues to improve the lives of everyone. I will be that type of leader as I have been throughout my career.
What are the three biggest issues facing Maryland?
The Economy – Breaking the shackles of inflation and even higher taxes and governmental regulations that are strangling opportunity for all our people.
Education – Equipping our children with the tools they need to succeed in the real world while putting parents back in charge.
Crime – Retaking control of our crime-ridden streets. While we see the growing violent crime in areas like Baltimore and Prince George’s County, inaction from politicians in Washington D.C. is causing crime to seep into areas throughout Maryland. It is wreaking havoc on our communities, and is a statewide problem that must be resolved.
What are the three biggest issues facing our Country?
Same as the previous three with an important fourth:
National Security – Reversing impotent leadership at the southern border and on the world stage. Our dysfunction and weakness are emboldening our adversaries who are making a mockery of American leadership around the planet.
What is your position on life issues? (abortion, assisted suicide) *
I am pro-life and believe that we need to progress towards a culture of life in the United States. That requires an incremental process of education and policies at the state and federal levels that are passable and palatable to the American people. At the federal level, I believe that there is a consensus on eliminating the vile practice of partial birth abortions. Beyond that we need to work together to create a standard that both protects life, but allows for states to implement policies that the people of each state support. As we collectively seek this balance, we need to also wrap those positions in policies that are pro-adoption, pro-mother, and pro-family and that include a narrative of compassion and support.
What is your position on taxes and spending, and the federal deficit?*
Our politicians are addicted to spending and are unsustainably burdening our people, our nation, and our future. We need to aggressively act now to create a sustainable budget that lives within our means, prioritizes our requirements, unburdens our population, and operates within the limits of federal constitutional authority. We also need to end the vicious cycle of the constant threat of a government shutdown. Producing a budget on time is the most basic task given to Congress by the Constitution, and the American people are sick of the politicians in Washington failing to deliver a budget on time.
What is your position on gun rights? *
The Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution provides a clear roadmap for robust gun rights. We need to support our law enforcement with the tools and resources they need to punish those who illegally use or possess guns, and hold our district attorneys responsible if they fail to keep those criminals off the streets.
Federal Legislation on the Legalization of Marijuana?
I do not believe this is a federal issue; it should be left to the states.
What is your position on trade? *
The United States benefits from a thriving global economy. Yet, we need to avoid the traps of allowing others to create unfair policies that disadvantage American goods and services. When American workers and businesses are allowed to compete on a fair level, they will succeed. We need to ensure that we are not creating a set of standards that hurts American workers while enabling China’s predatory practices that include rampant theft of our intellectual property.
What is your position on foreign policy and military issues? *
When America is weak, our adversaries benefit. When we abdicate our leadership position on the world stage, our adversaries fill in the gaps and erode an international system that has most benefited the United States since the end of World War II. The horrible withdrawal from Afghanistan only emboldened our enemies and we have seen the result of that in both Ukraine and the Middle East. Our enemies are deterred by strength, and showing potency of American capability and will stops those adversaries from acting in a way that is counter to our interests. We can sustainably protect the beneficial international environment by leading through the unique American advantage of a broad and trusting network of allies and partners.
What policies would you support to fight inflation? *
Inflation is fundamentally the result of our unsustainable addiction to spending. It is a hidden tax on our seniors and those who live paycheck-to-paycheck; our politicians who ignore this are detached from reality. We need to aggressively act now to bring spending levels back to pre-pandemic levels and create a sustainable budget that lives within our means. This will lower the rate of inflation and help those that have been struggling for the last three years as they’ve watched milk, eggs, and any number of other daily necessities increase in cost.
What is your position on Transgender issues?
We need to protect our children from policies and medical practices that are radically experimental. We also need to protect our biological females from policies that strip away the protections of Title IX that have been so beneficial to generations of young women.
Would you support the passage of the Human Life Amendment? *
I can’t answer in a Yes or No format. We have a long way to go in fostering a culture of life before we can get anywhere close to seeing such an idea be passable and palatable to the American people.
Would you support the passage of the Balanced Budget Amendment? *
I can’t answer a simple Yes or No. See below:
Politicians should not need to be told to balance the budget, this is common sense, and every family does it. More importantly, should we be drawn into a global conflict, the need to run adeficit may exist and a BBA would impede this from happening and potentially leave us without the resources needed to defend ourselves.
Do you support D.C. Statehood? *
No
Do you support retrocession of the District of Columbia into Maryland? *
NOo
Was Joe Biden legitimately elected President of the United States in the November 2020 Election? *
Yes
Do you support another round of federal stimulus payments? *
No
Do you support the proposed ban on TikTok? *
Yes
Do you pledge to accept the results of your election? *
Yes