Nicolaus Sleister
Nicolaus Sleister (Democratic Party) is running for election to the U.S. House to represent Virginia's 2nd Congressional District. He declared candidacy for the 2026 election.
Sleister completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Nicolaus Sleister was born in Olathe, Kansas. He graduated from Gardner Edgerton High School. He earned his medical assistant certification from Pinnacle Career Institute in 2010. He also earned a certificate in homeland security and emergency management from Pierce College in 2020. His career experience includes working in the corporate security sector and as a project manager.[1][2][3]
Elections
2026
See also: Virginia's 2nd Congressional District election, 2026
General election
The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.
General election for U.S. House Virginia District 2
The following candidates are running in the general election for U.S. House Virginia District 2 on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
| Jennifer Kiggans (R) | ||
| Nila Devanath (D) | ||
| Elaine Luria (D) | ||
| Patrick Mosolf (D) | ||
| James Osyf (D) | ||
Nicolaus Sleister (D) ![]() | ||
| Matthew Strickler (D) | ||
| John Stringfellow (D) | ||
| Michael Williamson (D) | ||
| William Matthews (R) | ||
= 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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Endorsements
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2022
See also: United States Senate election in Washington, 2022
General election
General election for U.S. Senate Washington
Incumbent Patty Murray defeated Tiffany Smiley in the general election for U.S. Senate Washington on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Patty Murray (D) | 57.1 | 1,741,827 | |
| Tiffany Smiley (R) | 42.6 | 1,299,322 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.2 | 6,751 | ||
| Total votes: 3,047,900 | ||||
= 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. | ||||
Nonpartisan primary election
Nonpartisan primary for U.S. Senate Washington
The following candidates ran in the primary for U.S. Senate Washington on August 2, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Patty Murray (D) | 52.2 | 1,002,811 | |
| ✔ | Tiffany Smiley (R) | 33.7 | 646,917 | |
| Leon Lawson (Trump Republican Party) | 3.1 | 59,134 | ||
| John Guenther (R) | 2.9 | 55,426 | ||
Ravin Pierre (D) ![]() | 1.2 | 22,172 | ||
Dave Saulibio (JFK Republican Party) ![]() | 1.0 | 19,341 | ||
| Naz Paul (Independent) | 1.0 | 18,858 | ||
| Bill Hirt (R) | 0.8 | 15,276 | ||
| Mohammad Said (D) | 0.7 | 13,995 | ||
| Henry Dennison (Socialist Workers Party) | 0.7 | 13,901 | ||
| Pano Churchill (D) | 0.6 | 11,859 | ||
| Bryan Solstin (D) | 0.5 | 9,627 | ||
| Charlie Jackson (Independent) | 0.4 | 8,604 | ||
| Jon Butler (Independent) | 0.3 | 5,413 | ||
| Thor Amundson (Independent) | 0.3 | 5,133 | ||
| Martin Hash (Independent) | 0.2 | 4,725 | ||
| Dan Phan Doan (Independent) | 0.2 | 3,049 | ||
| Sam Cusmir (D) | 0.1 | 2,688 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.1 | 1,511 | ||
| Total votes: 1,920,440 | ||||
= 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. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- David Ishii (D)
- Bob Hagglund (R)
- Nicolaus Sleister (D)
- Justin Greywolf (Independent)
- Isaac Holyk (R)
- David McCune (Independent)
- Robert Kirby (D)
- Mfumu Metamorphosis Mpiana (Independent)
- Larry Hussey (Independent)
Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Nicolaus Sleister completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Sleister's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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With a career in security management and public service, Nicolaus has protected critical infrastructure, led safety operations, and worked to keep people safe. He understands the challenges families face every day—accessing affordable healthcare, securing good jobs, and finding support for military families and veterans.
As a member of a multi-racial, middle-class family and the LGBTQ+ community, Nicolaus is deeply committed to fairness, transparency, and service. He’s running for Congress to fight for affordable healthcare, protect Social Security and Medicare, strengthen small businesses and farms, and defend the rights of all Americans. He believes in working together to build a stronger, fairer future.
Nicolaus lives in Suffolk, Virginia, with his husband, an active-duty soldier, and their son, Kaden.- Nicolaus is committed to delivering real results for working families—fighting for affordable healthcare, protecting Social Security and Medicare, lowering costs, and ensuring good-paying jobs. As a military spouse and middle-class parent, he knows firsthand the struggles families face and will always put people over politics.
- As the spouse of an active-duty soldier, Nicolaus understands the unique challenges military families and veterans face. He’s dedicated to strengthening VA services, improving housing, expanding healthcare access, and ensuring military families get the respect, resources, and opportunities they deserve.
- Nicolaus believes every American deserves equal rights and freedom from government overreach. He’s committed to protecting reproductive freedom, voting rights, LGBTQ+ equality, and civil liberties—fighting back against extremist efforts that threaten our democracy and personal freedoms.
Transparency is equally vital. Voters deserve to know where their representatives stand, how decisions are made, and how policies will impact their lives. Leaders should welcome tough questions and engage openly with constituents—whether through town halls, forums, or everyday conversations.
An effective elected official must also be empathetic and responsive, understanding the real challenges people face and working to find practical solutions. This requires listening to diverse perspectives, respecting different lived experiences, and being willing to adapt when needed.
Finally, a commitment to justice, fairness, and equality must guide every action. That means protecting civil rights, defending democratic institutions, and working to ensure every person—regardless of race, gender, income, or background—has an equal opportunity to succeed.
Crafting and voting on legislation is a huge part of the job, but it’s not just about passing bills, it’s about making thoughtful, informed choices that reflect the values and best interests of the district. I believe strongly in protecting our rights and freedoms, ensuring national security, strengthening the economy, and supporting military families and veterans, because these issues aren’t abstract to me; they are personal.
Another core responsibility is oversight, making sure our government is transparent, accountable, and working efficiently for the people. That means keeping a close eye on how taxpayer dollars are spent and making sure programs like Social Security, Medicare, and veterans’ services are delivering on their promises.
Finally, I believe constituent service is one of the most important parts of this job. Whether it’s helping a veteran access benefits, assisting a family with immigration paperwork, or cutting through red tape for a small business, I see it as my duty to be a resource and advocate every step of the way.
I also value the House’s diversity. With 435 members from across the country, it brings together a wide range of experiences and ideas that help shape better and more inclusive policies. I am especially inspired by how the House has increasingly become a place where voices that were once overlooked, including military families, LGBTQ+ Americans, and working-class communities, are finally being heard.
Economically, we need to repair the damage caused by the disastrous policies of the current Trump Administration, including reckless tax cuts for the wealthy, attacks on social safety nets, and a damaging trade war that hurt American farmers, small businesses, and working families. We must build a more resilient, inclusive economy that lowers costs, creates good-paying jobs, and ensures U.S. competitiveness.
Climate change remains a pressing challenge, especially for coastal districts like ours, requiring bold investments to protect our environment and infrastructure. We also face growing political and social divides, and we must work to heal those divisions by protecting civil rights, ensuring equality, and fostering a culture of respect and inclusion.
That said, term limits alone aren’t enough. We also need broader reforms to restore trust in our democracy. Like ending gerrymandering, strengthening voting rights, and increasing transparency, so voters have real choices and real power at the ballot box. My goal is a Congress that works for the people, not for personal gain or political survival.
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That said, compromise should never mean sacrificing core values or fundamental rights. There are principles that must be protected, such as civil rights, equality, and the basic needs of working families. I believe in working across the aisle to achieve practical solutions, but I also believe in standing firm when essential protections and freedoms are at stake. Good policymaking requires both flexibility and conviction, and I am committed to bringing both to the table.
For me, oversight is not about scoring political points. It is about protecting the interests of the people and ensuring that government programs—especially those that support military families, veterans, healthcare, and infrastructure—are working effectively. If elected, I would advocate for investigations that are fact-based, fair, and focused on improving government performance and public trust.
The House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs is also critically important to me. Our district has a large veteran population, and too many of them struggle to access timely healthcare, benefits, and support. I want to be a strong voice ensuring the VA delivers on its promises and that veterans receive the respect and care they have earned.
I am also interested in the House Homeland Security Committee. My background in security management has given me firsthand insight into the complexities of keeping our nation safe, from cybersecurity threats to emergency preparedness. I believe I can contribute meaningfully to strengthening homeland security while protecting civil liberties.
The House Committee on Small Business would allow me to advocate for the small businesses and family farms that are vital to our local economy. I am passionate about expanding economic opportunities, reducing barriers to growth, and making sure entrepreneurs have access to the resources they need to succeed.
Finally, I would value serving on the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability. Transparency and accountability are at the core of my political philosophy. This committee plays a crucial role in holding government agencies, contractors, and elected officials to the highest standards of integrity, something I believe is essential for restoring trust in government.
Accountability also means holding officials and agencies responsible when things go wrong. No one should be above the law—whether they are elected officials, government employees, or contractors. I believe in strengthening whistleblower protections, enforcing ethics rules, and creating real consequences for corruption and waste.
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.
2022
Nicolaus Sleister completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Sleister's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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- Proactive Police Reform
- Education Equity
- Combating Climate Change
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.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
See also
2026 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on July 24, 2021.
- ↑ LinkedIn, "Nicolaus Sleister," accessed July 26, 2021
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on May 3, 2025

