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Michael Deel
From Ballotpedia
This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.
Michael Deel (Republican Party) ran for election to the U.S. Senate to represent Arkansas. He did not appear on the ballot for the Republican primary on May 24, 2022.
Deel completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Michael Deel was born in Breaks, Virginia. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Southern New Hampshire University in 2020. As of 2021, Deel attended a graduate program at Johns Hopkins University. Deel’s career experience includes working as a logistics analyst at Arcbest Corporation. He also worked as an operations manager for USA Truck Inc. from 2014 to 2016.[1]
Elections
2022
See also: United States Senate election in Arkansas, 2022
General election
General election for U.S. Senate Arkansas
Incumbent John Boozman defeated Natalie James, Kenneth Cates, Richard Gant, and James Garner in the general election for U.S. Senate Arkansas on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | John Boozman (R) | 65.7 | 592,437 |
 | Natalie James (D)  | 31.1 | 280,187 | |
 | Kenneth Cates (L) | 3.2 | 28,682 | |
 | Richard Gant (Independent) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 0 | |
 | James Garner (Independent) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 0 | |
| Total votes: 901,306 | |||
| = 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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Stuart Shirrell (Independent)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Arkansas
Natalie James defeated Dan Whitfield and Jack Foster in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Arkansas on May 24, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Natalie James | 54.1 | 49,722 |
 | Dan Whitfield | 30.8 | 28,319 | |
| Jack Foster | 15.1 | 13,891 | ||
| Total votes: 91,932 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. Senate Arkansas
Incumbent John Boozman defeated Jake Bequette, Jan Morgan, and Heath Loftis in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate Arkansas on May 24, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | John Boozman | 58.0 | 201,677 |
 | Jake Bequette | 20.7 | 71,809 | |
 | Jan Morgan | 19.0 | 65,958 | |
 | Heath Loftis | 2.3 | 8,112 | |
| Total votes: 347,556 | |||
| = 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
- Michael Deel (R)
Libertarian convention
Libertarian convention for U.S. Senate Arkansas
Kenneth Cates advanced from the Libertarian convention for U.S. Senate Arkansas on February 20, 2022.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Kenneth Cates (L) |
| ||||
| = 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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Campaign themes
2022
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Michael Deel completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Deel's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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Michael Deel is a leading political analyst and constitutional expert who has gained recognition in the States for his unique talent and logistics skills. Deel leverages his passion for current events and knowledge of politics to tackle the challenges and opportunities faced by people. He specializes in the study of the origin of several political systems, their development, how they operate, and lastly their effect on the community.
Deel graduated from Southern New Hampshire University with a bachelor’s degree in History and then joined Johns Hopkins University for a master’s degree in Government & Political Science. During his time in college, Deel gained substantial knowledge regarding the political trends, and foreign relations, and is presently regarded for his well-researched articles that offer not only the statistics of the current scenario but also examine the motivations, cultures, values, history, and decision-making process behind the on-going policies and their effect U.S. interests or national security.
- Equality
- Unity
- Sound Governance
My vision is simple: Restoration. I’ve realized that what the people of this wonderful state need is not more hollow words and political promises. They’ve become far too numb and disheartened by the many years of detached leadership that left them feeling invisible, unheard, and uncared for. I want to restore their faith in our political process. I want to restore the soul of the Republican party itself by embodying the original values, the values that created this great nation, and I want to restore the relationship between our leadership and our community members and show them what great change we can create by working together.
I am of the heritage of American politics when politicians held jobs and everyday duties like everyone else. They did not distance themselves from the struggles, worries, and needs of everyday citizens. My political ambitions go no further than two terms. That’s all. I do not have a “larger” career goal that forces me to look beyond the citizens; my goal is to serve the people in their best interest.
To choose only one person as an example of who I look up to would ignore so many vital influences the world and history have shown me. However, if I were to limit it to one name for the sake of brevity, I would have to choose John F. Kennedy. Rumors and conjecture about his private life, or family’s history aside, his public life and efforts to improve the lives of so many Americans are sure to be admired. To maintain such elegance while in constant physical pain clearly showed the dedication and sheer devotion he felt to this country. His work for Civil Rights in this country is chief among the traits I believe are venerable. It may be wishful thinking, but perhaps if his light had not been snuffed out at such a young age, our country would not be experiencing the trouble we see every day. The critical problem that has continually plagued this great country is equality. Alone, no single man will be able to change or erase the effects inequality has had upon our Nation.
There are far too many to choose from or to choose just one. Ben Franklin's Autobiography is outstanding, and of course, every American at one point or another should read Thomas Paine’s Common Sense. If you want to understand some of the motivations and various styles behind leadership, The Prince by Machiavelli is the go-to source. Still, to choose a more contemporary example, I would have to say Hamilton, the Broadway play that has now been filmed like a movie, is worth specific attention. It reminds us that there have been those willing to risk it all for the betterment of this country throughout history. It illustrates that even during the formation of our Nation, the struggles between race and social status were at play. It also shows how pride, and a selfish, almost singular, focus on fame, fortune, and personal advancement were ultimately the undoing of Aaron Burr and cost Hamilton his life. Politically, the representation of Washington's relinquishing of power is possibly one of the most American inventions to come out of the Revolution. The writers frame the moment eloquently and movingly. There is nothing more central to my political philosophy than this. The greatest testament to the work of the Founders of this nation is the peaceful transition of power in this country. It is not just about the Revolution or the horrible duel that ended a promising political career. Instead, to quote Scott Galbraith, vice president of programming for Little Rock Arkansas’ Robinson Center Performance Hall, “It’s about humanity coming together in times of struggle and finding a way to be civil with each other...despite just a ridiculous number of differences.” I think we can all learn a lesson or two from a show like that.
The only responsibility of an elected official is to serve the public. It is crucial to remember that an elected official helps all the people, not simply those that offer the promise of re-election. A Democrat does not and cannot serve only the needs of those of his or her constituents, and a Republican must not serve only Republicans. Special interest groups may be exciting, but they should never be the focus of an official. A politician's interest should remain only with the current, future, safety, and comfort of all citizens of his or her constituency.
Most importantly, though, a Politician must be prepared, if not enthusiastic, to give over the reins to the next generation. Once out of office, a Leader’s role is to support and assist those that succeed them. I have worked for years in logistics and transportation, and this type of work instilled in me the principle of cooperation, integrity, and understanding. When the entire team is focused on a mutually prosperous goal, many seemingly insurmountable tasks become resolved with relative ease. As the saying goes, many hands make light work.
Most importantly, though, a Politician must be prepared, if not enthusiastic, to give over the reins to the next generation. Once out of office, a Leader’s role is to support and assist those that succeed them. I have worked for years in logistics and transportation, and this type of work instilled in me the principle of cooperation, integrity, and understanding. When the entire team is focused on a mutually prosperous goal, many seemingly insurmountable tasks become resolved with relative ease. As the saying goes, many hands make light work.
To speak for my qualities feels somewhat egotistical, which is not my natural state. My quiet confidence, I think, is my most valuable asset to holding public office. Though I believe my purpose is to serve my constituents and not my desires, I dare to resist the influence of private interests. My hope is not to perpetually hold any particular office or even remain as a public figure, which empowers me to truly serve the needs of the voters and not protect the future of my career. If I were to choose any other qualities, I feel I possess that will help me take office. I would say my inclusivity and understanding. I understand the needs of the marginalized and disenfranchised. I also know that it will be the opinions and needs of those forgotten citizens in the coming years that will unveil our country’s salvation, perhaps of civilization as a whole. To choose one quality I am personally proudest of, which I believe is a critical trait that any should possess who decides to serve the public, I would determine reliability. My years working in logistics taught me the indelible lesson that completing a schedule can be a life-and-death situation. The men and women who move cargo around this country are its lifeblood. Those men and women relied on me to make sure they had everything they needed, and I believe a voter needs to have that same assurance.
To think in terms of one’s legacy is pure hubris. For human beings to leave a legacy, they must be more focused on their convictions and what they know in their heart to be accurate than what future generations will remember. My study of history has shown me that the leaders that have been genuinely focused on their legacies and not the needs of others have turned out to be villains. I hope that my life will be lived in the service of others. My goal is to work both whiles tirelessly in public office and after I step down to ensure the rights of every citizen are protected and respected. The future of my reputation and this country as a whole will matter very little if we cannot finally heal the divisions that have existed since long before the Declaration of Independence was signed. Never has this country been as polarized as it is today. I do not dare dream that I alone can reverse the centuries of pain that so many Americans have felt. Still, if I can help our society take one step toward true equality, honest respect for each individual, and open communication, that would be legacy enough. I hope with every beat of my heart to live an honorable life, and should I be remembered at all after I have left this earth, may it be for the fact that I understood each life is precious. If we work towards what is most beneficial for all people, we may be able to finally truly live up to the principle of E Pluribus Unum, “Out of Many, One.”
I was only three years old when the first significant world event made an impression on my mind. It was the horrible explosion after the launch of the Challenger Space Shuttle in 1986. I may not be able to say precisely where I was or who I was sitting next to while I witnessed what transpired that day, but I can say the lessons it taught me have remained with me ever since. I did not know it then but having seen what happened to those brave Americans taught me two important lessons: honor and courage. Though I look back on that memory with sorrow for the Astronauts and their families, I also look at it with pride and awe. The Challenger team illustrated to the world that you must follow your dreams even if it is dangerous. The Challenger crew gave the last full measure of devotion to what they believed to be necessary, regardless of the well-known risks. That is honorable. I strive to have the courage of those heroes, and I hope always to live my life with honor.
I was a bookkeeper for a local gas station company. Though it may not have been the most glamorous of jobs, it did teach me the importance of keeping things organized. Simple errors in the recording of sales or the collection of taxes could have meant disaster for the establishment. To hold that much responsibility at a young age also instilled a lasting feeling of pride that would influence my career to this day. That responsibility also showed me that I could be the type of person a team could count on to be diligent in my work. Perhaps the most enlightening experiences from my time at the gas station were my interactions with the public. As you can imagine, almost everyone from the community made their way to the store at some point in their week. This introduced me to so many different cultures and personalities--each one unique, each one valuable. I learned the importance of customer service and just how important it is for each person to feel their needs are being heard for there to be any hope of conflict resolution. Of course, I would be remiss if I did not mention that the first and perhaps most important lesson that working at the gas station taught me was the pride that only comes when you feel as though you are a valuable member of society, contributing what you can when you can. There is little in this world that will bolster self-esteem quite as completely as cashing a check that you feel you have truly earned.
I prefer not to think of my life in terms of struggles but rather opportunities. As are many people in the various communities around this country, I deeply feel the sadness that is growing among us. There seems to be no topic that does not lead to strife. We are divided by our religious beliefs; we are divided by the color of our skin; we have even become violently divided by our politics. The terms Democrat or Republican can be heard being spoken with such hateful intent as to equal that of racial and cultural slurs. It seems that the flame that once heated the melting pot of America has become the conflagration that may spark the powderkeg, which could be our undoing. So many of our friends and neighbors do not feel safe in their own homes. Far too many have lost their lives to blind hatred. As we all do, I struggle with how to move forward without forgetting the important lessons of the past. How do we rectify the wrongdoings of previous generations without disrespecting the honorable, and in many ways, absolutely indispensable contributions to the world those men and women made to the word? I am left with overwhelming sorrow when I think of the pain so many have endured. Also, the pain will continue if we cannot find a way to live together truly. We must respect the sanctity of all life once and for all.
Note: 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.
See also
2022 Elections
External links
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Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on April 30, 2021
Senators
John Boozman (R)
Tom Cotton (R)
Representatives
District 1
Rick Crawford (R)
District 2
French Hill (R)
District 3
Steve Womack (R)
District 4
Bruce Westerman (R)
Republican Party (6)
