Jonathan Royce Esteban
Jonathan Royce Esteban (Libertarian Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Nevada's 4th Congressional District. He lost in the general election on November 3, 2020.
Esteban completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. Click here to read the survey answers.
Elections
2020
See also: Nevada's 4th Congressional District election, 2020
Nevada's 4th Congressional District election, 2020 (June 9 Democratic primary)
Nevada's 4th Congressional District election, 2020 (June 9 Republican primary)
General election
General election for U.S. House Nevada District 4
Incumbent Steven Horsford defeated Jim Marchant, Jonathan Royce Esteban, and Barry Rubinson in the general election for U.S. House Nevada District 4 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Steven Horsford (D) | 50.7 | 168,457 |
 | Jim Marchant (R)  | 45.8 | 152,284 | |
 | Jonathan Royce Esteban (L) | 2.4 | 7,978 | |
 | Barry Rubinson (Independent American Party) | 1.1 | 3,750 | |
| Total votes: 332,469 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. House Nevada District 4
The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Nevada District 4 on June 9, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Steven Horsford | 75.1 | 39,656 |
 | Jennifer Eason | 9.4 | 4,968 | |
 | Gabrielle D'Ayr | 7.3 | 3,847 | |
 | Gregory Kempton | 2.9 | 1,507 | |
 | Chris Colley | 2.7 | 1,431 | |
 | George Brucato | 2.7 | 1,424 | |
| Total votes: 52,833 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. House Nevada District 4
The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for U.S. House Nevada District 4 on June 9, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Jim Marchant | 34.7 | 15,760 |
 | Sam Peters | 28.1 | 12,755 | |
 | Lisa Song Sutton | 15.1 | 6,846 | |
 | Charles Navarro | 6.3 | 2,870 | |
 | Rebecca Wood | 6.3 | 2,847 | |
 | Leo Blundo | 4.2 | 1,923 | |
 | Rosalie Bingham | 2.9 | 1,331 | |
 | Randi Reed | 2.3 | 1,023 | |
| Total votes: 45,355 | |||
| = 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
- Catherine Prato (R)
- Leo Dunson (R)
Campaign themes
2020
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Jonathan Royce Esteban completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Esteban's responses.
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
An immediate priority for the 117th Congress is (1) to end the humanitarian crisis on the southern border, (2) establish a healthcare system that works for all Americans, and (3) modernizing our welfare system to eliminate the rising costs of bureaucracy.
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
I began as young activist in Hawaii fighting for environmental action. Since then, I have fought for criminal justice reform, drug and sex work decriminalization, and clean energy deregulation. If elected, I will push to put these progressive changes into federal law.
Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?
Rosa Parks. For standing up against what should knew was not right.
Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?
The framework set under the Constitution of the United States of America has long inspired by fundamental beliefs of governance for a free people. I see tremendous opportunity to create a nation of the future.
What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?
I believe a true representative of the people is not only a member of that community, but also someone who loves to connect with the people of their community. I believe it to be a talent to work with opposing factions with Congress, and to promote new legislation never brought to discussion in our history.
What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?
In both my professional and community leadership I have both the experience and the skill to communicate with all people in effort to enhance productivity and happiness.
What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?
The core responsibility to the office of which I'm running, is to advocate for legislation that benefits my community with massive consideration to the fiscal and social effects for the rest of the nation.
What legacy would you like to leave?
I see this as a decade-long mission to begin the transformation of the federal government to eliminate bureaucracy and to better serve the people of the United States of America.
What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?
I was only six years old when I woke up to see my grandfather hunched in front of the TV. I knew there was something different about this day. I didn't understand what was happening, but I knew from others' reactions days would be dark from this point on. I remember feeling as if I witnessed a turning point in our history - unlike the wars I learned about in school, this was a unique challenge for this country, the only place I knew as home.
What was your very first job? How long did you have it?
My first job was a retail and stock associate at Express, a men's and women' clothier, which I held for three and a half years at various locations around the Las Vegas area.
What is your favorite holiday? Why?
New Year's Eve is a universal celebration of a whole year of good, bad, and historic moments in all of our lives.
What is your favorite book? Why?
Green Eggs
If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?
Batman, for practicing voluntarysm in the superhero world.
What is your favorite thing in your home or apartment? Why?
My favorite thing in the entire home is the patio overlooking the entire Las Vegas Strip.
What was the last song that got stuck in your head?
"Family Affair."
What is something that has been a struggle in your life?
Starvation. I did not come from wealth, as my grandparents lived off retirement and lived paycheck to paycheck. I survived because of the welfare state, but it isn't good enough. I had a different diet, which made eating difficult. Not having the money to afford that diet led to many hungry nights.
What process do you favor for redistricting?
Once the U.S. Census is complete, the public deserve transparency in the redrawing of district maps. Communities should be united, city and county lines maintained as best as possible. No consideration for partisan demographics at all.
What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?
The U.S. House of Representatives is the most diverse and fastest working legislative body - initiating revenue bills and impeachment proceedings. Having shorter terms means the people can make swifter changes in representation.
Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?
I believe anyone who understands civics and their speaks for their community on a number of issues is the right person for this job.
What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?
The greatest threat to the United States of America over the next decade is the balance of power in the federal government. The Patriot Act and the 16th Amendment has challenged the checks and balances between branches of government, leading to a total collapse of our democracy and to our republic. The freedom of America is at odds with the power of those we elect, not for their careful deliberation, but for their total control of our lives, spending, and peace. Endless wars and mismanagement has inflated our national debt and placed a heavier tax burden on every American. In the next decade, we must not only minimize the state, we must reshape our government -- placing limits of power on those in office. This mission will require the complete dissolution of the two-party system which has ruled over our governance for the last century.
If you are not a current representative, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?
If elected, I wish to serve on the Committee of Appropriations and on the sub-committees within Science, Space, and Technology, Transportation and Infrastructure, and the Joint Committee on Taxation. With these committee assignments I can lead the total reform of the federal government.
Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?
I believe two year terms allow for the response of the constituency to be represented in the Congress faster and more accurately to the needs and wants of the constituency.
What are your thoughts on term limits?
Term limits are vital to ensuring democracy within our republic.
If you are not currently a member of your party’s leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives, would you be interested in joining the leadership? If so, in what role?
As a third-party candidate, I seek only to build bipartisan relations by establishing a new Caucus to reform our government. The role of Speaker is not within the grasps of freshman representatives.
Is there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?
Justin Amash's separation from partisan politics as of Independence Day 2019 is a particular point of inspiration. I anticipate my incumbency would be uniquely different from any representative past or present.
Both sitting representatives and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?
My grandfather is a man of many opinions. He is my single most inspiration for reaching out to the community to hear their take and to hear their stories. I've met so many people: sex workers who've escaped from their pimps, gay men who found no support from law enforcement when they were attacked, black folks who sat in a jail cell because they couldn't afford bail for street performing without a permit. When terrible things happen to good people, I stand up. And that is why I'm running for Congress in 2020.
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
2020 Elections
External links
Footnotes
