Jericho Gonzales

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Jericho Gonzales

Republican Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

August 2, 2022

Personal

Birthplace

Muskegon, Mich.

Religion

Christian

Profession

Janitor, lot attendant

Contact

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Jericho Gonzales (Republican Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Michigan's 2nd Congressional District. He lost as a write-in in the Republican primary on August 2, 2022.

Gonzales completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Jericho Gonzales was born in Muskegon, Michigan. Gonzales attended Muskegon Community College. His career experience includes working as a part-time janitor and full-time lot attendant.

Elections

2022

See also: Michigan's 2nd Congressional District election, 2022

General election

General election for U.S. House Michigan District 2

Incumbent John Moolenaar defeated Jerry Hilliard and Nathan Hewer in the general election for U.S. House Michigan District 2 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		John Moolenaar (R)	63.7	216,222
		Jerry Hilliard (D)	34.3	116,452
		Nathan Hewer (L)	2.0	6,847

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 339,521
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Michigan District 2

Jerry Hilliard advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Michigan District 2 on August 2, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jerry Hilliard	100.0	40,952

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 40,952
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Ray Johnson (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Michigan District 2

Incumbent John Moolenaar defeated Tom Norton and Jericho Gonzales in the Republican primary for U.S. House Michigan District 2 on August 2, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		John Moolenaar	65.2	77,394
		Tom Norton	34.8	41,273
		Jericho Gonzales (Write-in)	0.0	37
		Other/Write-in votes	0.0	37

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 118,741
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Libertarian convention

Libertarian convention for U.S. House Michigan District 2

Nathan Hewer advanced from the Libertarian convention for U.S. House Michigan District 2 on July 10, 2022.

		Candidate
✔		Nathan Hewer (L)

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Campaign themes

2022

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Jericho Gonzales completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Gonzales' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a working class conservative mostly self educated in economics and political philosophy. I studied at Muskegon Community College until my grandmother had a stroke causing me to make the decision to drop out to care for her until her passing. I have spent the past 7 years of my life working as a janitor and cart pusher at my local Sam's Club, all the while listening to lectures and debating with my coworkers on the nature of good governance, mans capacity to be a moral actor, and the course our society should take.

I grew up in a Hispanic household, attended a black Baptist church. all while living in a community  in which my conservative principles were constantly being challenged.  In college I was able to convert many a socialist to  a more individualist world view. 

I decided to throw my hat into the ring because I see no desire in the Republican party of this age to fight FOR anything. I also believe that this party has become the party of the old and would love to show the younger generations that these ideas aren't just in the past but that they have a place in the future as well.

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?

• The working man still has a place in Washington
• The power stolen by the Federal government must be returned to the states.
• It is not enough to resist loosing, we must advance our beliefs

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

The federal government should have its powers heavily reduced.

The government has a fiduciary responsibility to the tax payer.
The debt is too high to go unaddressed.
Social Security has to be reworked or it will collapse.
The administrative state has grown too big and too powerful.
This nation has always been and should always be a Republic not a Democracy.
Power should be as close to the individual as possible.
The number of federal laws should be reduced by an extreme degree.
Institutions such as the universities should be deprived of their role as gatekeepers.

Big Tech must never be allowed to censor free speech regardless of their intentions in doing so.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

There are many people I look up to but in this age three men seem to be increasingly relevant. President Michel Higgins of Ireland stated in his acceptance speech that his duty was, To keep his promises to those who voted for him, To listen and faithfully represent those who voted against him, And to restore the faith of the who did not vote. This to me is the greatest take on the nature of a true leader. One who realizes that although he is in charge he is in the employment of all his constituents.

The resolve of President McKinley to bring together a nation heavily fractured under a new identity, gives me hope in this tumultuous time that we can still overcome the cultural divide.

Lastly although he is a fictional character, I could only aspire to have the self integrity and compassion of George Bailey. I do not need to be the most important person in the world, but if I can be the most useful, I'd like that very much.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

12 Angry Men;

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,

Servant of Nation (season 1, Netflix)

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

The realization that the office you hold does not make you special or important, only useful. Elected officials have no basis for feeling superior to their constituents. The office grants you no more rights or liberties than any other citizen of this nation.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Childlike curiosity, a compassionate ear, eye for detail, and an obsession with the creative prosses as it relates to public policy solutions.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

As Pres. Higgins (Ireland) says Keep your promises to your supporters, Try to understand your detractors. And invite the disillusioned back into the fold. And above all stay humble.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I would like set an example of what a man from humble beginnings can achieve, as well as demonstrate to the American public that politics need not be self-serving.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

I was 6 when 9/11 happened. I'll never forget the look of panicked horror on my mothers face when she picked me and my sister up early from school that day. The stressed shock in her voice as she attempted to tell me and my 4yr old sister what had happened was frightening. Since that day I have never known a time without war.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My first formal job was in a textile mill when I was 16. I worked 60hr weeks for a $9/hr wage. That lasted about 2 months before I had to go back to high school. Prior to that It was odd end construction work with my father since I was about 5 yrs. old.

What is your favorite book? Why?

The Wizard of Oz, whole series, all 50 books. Every chapter puts you in a new world of crazy logic and bizzaro characters. Each book is like an epic voyage through an American fairytale on an acid trip.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Easy, The Doctor from Doctor Who. A nobody withaccess to infinity who builds himself up into a legend. Who wouldn't want that.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Superman by Five For Fighting

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

I have never felt comfortable considering myself. Mabey has something to do with growing up poor but when you know your family cant afford Christmas you learn to stop making wish lists Fact is that in the grand scheme of things I've never felt like much of a main character, but I've been one heck of a supporting character.

What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

The drug war will draw cartel violence onto American soil if the underlying issues are not addressed

The debt will force us to to take desperate shortsighted actions to our long term detriment
Social Security will collapse if we cannot reorganize the program into a more solvent form

America will either become trapped in dependency on foreign trade or turn towards being self reliant

If you are not a current representative, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

Ethics; Rules; Small Business; Foreign Affaires; Education and Labor; Joint Committee on the Economy; Judiciary

Tell us your favorite joke.

So I was talking to this guy one day and he starts complaining about young people. He said " the problem with you young people is you have no concept of the future, Its just a fairytale to you." I looked at him and said "That's not true sir, I'm saving for retirement." He says "Oh, well that's good to hear. So what do you got? a 401k? A savings account?" I said "No I just keep everything in my mattress." He says "That's a terrible Idea! what if it catches fire?" I said "I'm not too worried about it." He looks at me and says "Well, you're and idiot, But out of curiosity. How much money do you have in your mattress?" I said "Eighteen thousand dollars." He says "Eighteen thousand dollars!? Well, I guess when you're sleeping on top of that kind of money you must sleep like a king." I said "Yeah! I just wish it wasn't all in Quarters."

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See also

2022 Elections

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Government

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Candidate

U.S. House Michigan District 2

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Footnotes

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Michigan's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Gary Peters (D)

Elissa Slotkin (D)

Representatives

District 1

Jack Bergman (R)

District 2

John Moolenaar (R)

District 3

Hillary Scholten (D)

District 4

Bill Huizenga (R)

District 5

Tim Walberg (R)

District 6

Debbie Dingell (D)

District 7

Tom Barrett (R)

District 8

Kristen Rivet (D)

District 9

Lisa McClain (R)

District 10

John James (R)

District 11

Haley Stevens (D)

District 12

Rashida Tlaib (D)

District 13

Shri Thanedar (D)

Democratic Party (8)

Republican Party (7)