Michael George Goodspaceguy Nelson, originally named Michael George Nelson, was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Maryland and a Master of Science from the University of Minnesota.
In 2006, he legally changed his name to Michael George Goodspaceguy Nelson.
Goodspaceguy identifies himself as an "amateur economist and astronomer." His 2010 campaign profile lists his past occupations as an accountant, chemical plant operator, economist, and investor. Goodspaceguy has run for public office twenty-five times, including for positions such as United States Senator and Governor of Washington.
He has not received endorsements from any political party but has campaigned as a Democrat, Republican, Trump Republican, Libertarian, and under the self-created "Employmentwealth Party." In the 2014 race for Washington's 7th congressional district, he declared his affiliation with the "Work and Wealth Party." His most successful electoral performance was in the 2003 King County Council district 8 race, where he secured 16% of the vote against Dow Constantine. In addition to his numerous campaigns, Goodspaceguy frequently attends Burien, Washington city council meetings, actively participating in public comments.
He ran for the Port of Seattle Commission in the August 4, 2015 primary, finishing second in a field of three candidates with about 24,000 votes, or just over 9% of the total votes cast. He ultimately lost the general election to incumbent Courtney Gregoire but received 48,000 votes (13% of the vote) and was endorsed by the 34th District Republicans.
Goodspaceguy also participated in the 2016 gubernatorial election in Washington, receiving 13,191 votes in the primary but did not advance. He ran for King County Executive in the 2017 election and filed again in 2021 for the same office.
In the 2018 United States Senate election in Washington, he ran unsuccessfully and again for King County Council in 2019, garnering 4.52% of the vote compared to the 16% in his 2003 run. He was a candidate in the 2020 gubernatorial election, identifying as a "Trump Republican," and received 5,646 votes in the primary.
Goodspaceguy is running in the 2024 United States Senate election as a Republican.
Goodspaceguy's political positions focus on advocating for space exploration and colonization. He also supports population control through a birth fee and describes himself as "pro-choice on almost everything." Goodspaceguy opposes the Washington state minimum wage, arguing that it "destroys jobs."
The Republican Party has long championed fiscal conservatism, advocating for minimal government intervention in the economy. They believe economic prosperity is driven by free markets and individual initiative.
This philosophy includes support for laissez-faire economics, tax cuts, reduced government spending, privatization, and reducing government-run welfare programs in favor of private-sector solutions and personal responsibility. The party's current fiscal stance supports lower taxes, deregulation of corporations, and opposition to labor unions.
Historically, the Republican Party had strong ties to local businesses and large national corporations. However, in the 21st century, this dynamic has shifted, with corporate America increasingly aligning with more liberal values.
The GOP now focuses more on small businesses and family firms, viewing larger corporations, particularly in tech sectors, as cultural adversaries.
Modern Republicans often endorse supply-side economics, a theory popularized during Ronald Reagan's presidency. They argue that reduced income tax rates can spur GDP growth, ultimately generating the same or more government revenue from increased economic activity.
Republicans typically advocate for tax cuts, oppose graduated tax rates, and favor private over government spending. They generally oppose the estate tax and have a historical precedent of supporting tariffs to protect American industries.
The Republican Party opposes government-run welfare programs, arguing they promote dependency on government assistance. Instead, they advocate for personal responsibility and self-reliance, supporting measures like the welfare reform of 1996, which limited welfare eligibility.
Traditional Values and Social Conservatism: Social conservatism within the Republican Party is deeply rooted in traditional values, often with a Christian foundation. The party supports gun rights as outlined in the Second Amendment, the death penalty, and restrictions on abortion.
They also oppose same-sex marriage, transgender rights, and comprehensive sex education, favoring policies that uphold traditional family structures.
Republicans generally support school choice through charter schools and vouchers for private education. They criticize the performance of public schools and teachers' unions and advocate for greater accountability within the public school system, as seen with the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.
The party opposes a government-run single-payer healthcare system, advocating instead for a personal or employer-based insurance system, supplemented by Medicare and Medicaid. They support measures to increase health insurance portability, coverage for pre-existing conditions, and tax benefits to make insurance more affordable.
Since the 1920s, Republicans have generally opposed labor unions, supporting right-to-work laws that weaken union influence. They argue that unions can hurt businesses by driving up costs and reducing competitiveness.
Strong National Defense: The Republican Party typically favors increased military spending and a robust national defense. They often support unilateral action in foreign policy and have historically backed military interventions, such as the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, as part of the broader War on Terror.
The Republican Party has consistently supported a strong alliance with Israel, emphasizing the importance of this relationship in promoting peace and stability in the Middle East. This support extends to military aid, diplomatic backing, and efforts to secure Israel's security against regional threats.
The party views Israel as a key ally and partner in the fight against terrorism and in advancing democratic values in the region.
The party's stance on international trade has varied over time. Initially supporting protective tariffs, Republicans later embraced free trade agreements.
However, recent years have seen a return to protectionist policies, notably under President Donald Trump, who initiated a trade war with China and renegotiated NAFTA.
Environmental Protection: Historically, some Republican leaders have supported environmental protection efforts. However, the party is now divided on issues like climate change, with many Republicans skeptical of human-caused global warming.
The party generally supports market-based solutions to environmental problems and opposes cap-and-trade policies.
Republicans advocate for increased federal investment in alternative energy sources and support measures to achieve energy independence. This includes promoting oil drilling in protected areas, which has drawn criticism from environmentalists.
Immigration: The Republican Party is divided on immigration, with some advocating for migrant worker programs and easing citizenship guidelines, while others emphasize stricter border enforcement. The party's approach has shifted in response to changing political dynamics and voter demographics.
The Republican platform opposes same-sex marriage and other LGBTQ+ issues, although there are dissenting factions within the party. Some Republicans support anti-discrimination laws, but the party remains divided on how to approach LGBTQ+ rights.
Republicans often support strict constructionism or textualism in judicial interpretation, criticizing judicial activism and advocating for judicial restraint. They support legislative measures to limit federal court jurisdiction in certain areas, reflecting their preference for state over federal authority.