Michael Kripchak is a Congressional candidate with a diverse and accomplished background, hailing from Youngstown, Ohio. Born to a retired union elementary school teacher and a US Army veteran turned union police officer, Kripchak's roots are deeply embedded in service and dedication.
A standout student, he graduated co-valedictorian from Chaney High School in 2000. Kripchak's pursuit of higher education led him to the US Air Force Academy, where he majored in Physics with minors in Mathematics and Japanese, graduating in 2004 as a Distinguished Graduate (cum laude).
Following his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the US Air Force, he was stationed at the AF Research Laboratory at Hanscom Air Force Base, MA. His military career involved significant contributions to quantum computing and advanced weapons systems development, alongside managing over $1 million in federal funding to support troops during the War on Terror.
Kripchak also served in the Honor Guard, representing the Air Force across New England. After separating from the USAF in 2007, Kripchak returned to Youngstown before moving to Los Angeles to explore opportunities in the entertainment industry, engaging in acting, writing, and producing.
His academic journey continued at Santa Monica College and later at NYU-Tisch, where he earned a Master's degree in Interactive Telecommunications, focusing on virtual and augmented reality. During this time, he co-founded a start-up specializing in electronic signal location tracking, including applications for aerial drones.
In 2019, seeking to market their company's services, Kripchak and his team joined a business incubator in Erie, PA, working on manufacturing efficiency solutions. The COVID-19 pandemic eventually led to the closure of this venture, and Kripchak returned to Youngstown to support his family.
Revitalizing Manufacturing: Establishing an Ohio River Valley Innovation District to attract and retain advanced manufacturing jobs, thereby reinforcing the region's economic foundation.
Overhauling the PreK-12 education system by replacing the "teaching to the test" model with the "Whole Person Concept," emphasizing practical life skills, community engagement, and the reinstatement of civics education.
Liberating farmers from the control of large agricultural corporations, ensuring their rights to seed ownership, equipment repair, and land use. This includes working with Ohio's public research universities to develop new seed strains and crafting a Farm Bill to provide financial stability for farmers.
Kripchak's campaign reflects his comprehensive vision for supporting and enhancing the lives of his constituents, drawing upon his rich background in public service, technology, and community engagement.
The Ohio Democratic Party (ODP) has its roots in the early Democratic Party of the 19th century and has played a significant role in Ohio politics over the decades, adapting to the changing political landscape. The party's mission is to elect Democrats at all levels of government and to advocate for policies that reflect Democratic values, such as economic equality, healthcare access, education, and social justice.
The ODP is led by a chairperson elected by the party's central committee, overseeing party operations, strategy, and campaign efforts. The party also has various committees focused on specific areas such as finance, communications, and grassroots organizing.
The Ohio Democratic Party advocates for affordable and accessible healthcare for all Ohioans, supporting the expansion of Medicaid and the protection of the Affordable Care Act. It focuses on improving public education, increasing funding for schools, and making higher education more affordable.
Economically, the party supports policies that create jobs, raise wages, and ensure fair labor practices, advocating for economic policies that benefit working families. The ODP also promotes equality and fights against discrimination, supporting civil rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and criminal justice reform.
Additionally, it advocates for environmental protection and sustainable practices, supporting measures to address climate change and protect natural resources.
The ODP is actively involved in election campaigns, supporting Democratic candidates in state and federal elections through voter registration, mobilization, and turnout efforts. The party engages in advocacy efforts on key issues, working with community organizations and activists to promote Democratic policies and initiatives.
Fundraising activities are also conducted to support campaigns and party operations, including grassroots fundraising and larger donor contributions.
The ODP faces challenges such as political polarization, competition from the Republican Party, and changing demographics within the state. The party aims to increase Democratic representation in the Ohio State Legislature, win statewide offices, and contribute to the success of Democratic candidates in national elections.
The Democratic Party of the United States is grounded in modern liberalism, which contrasts with the Republican Party's conservatism. Positioned center-left on the American political spectrum, the party comprises diverse wings including centrists, progressives, fiscal conservatives, and democratic socialists.
The party advocates for social programs, labor unions, consumer protection, workplace safety, equal opportunity, disability rights, and racial equity. Environmental protection, criminal justice reform, and support for abortion rights and the LGBT community are also key elements.
Democrats promote a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, endorse the scientific consensus on climate change, and favor a multilateral approach in foreign policy.
Economic Opportunity: The Democratic Party prioritizes equal economic opportunity, a strong social safety net, and robust labor unions. Advocating for a mixed economy, they support a progressive tax system, higher minimum wages, Social Security, universal health care, public education, and subsidized housing.
Economic development and job creation are pursued through infrastructure development and clean energy investments.
Democrats support a progressive tax structure to fund more services and reduce economic inequality, ensuring the wealthiest Americans pay the highest tax rates. They advocate for increased government spending on social services and reduced military spending.
Opposing cuts to essential services like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, Democrats believe these services enhance productivity and social justice.
The party calls for a $15.00/hour national minimum wage and supports regular adjustments to this wage. They have historically supported initiatives to increase the minimum wage and have passed related legislation.
Universal Health Care: Democrats aim for affordable, quality health care, moving toward universal health care through various means. They support options like single-payer systems, Medicare for All, and public health insurance options.
The Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), which has expanded health insurance coverage to over 20 million Americans, is a significant achievement in this area.
Public Education: The party seeks to improve public education by raising standards and reforming programs like Head Start. They support universal preschool, expanded access to primary education, and reducing student loan debt.
Proposals include nationwide universal preschool, tuition-free or reduced-tuition college, and reforms to standardized testing.
Climate Change and Renewable Energy: Democrats emphasize government responsibility in environmental protection, focusing on alternative energy generation for economic, security, and environmental benefits. They advocate for expanding conservation lands, promoting open space and rail travel, and implementing strict regulations on greenhouse gases and fossil fuels.
Equal Opportunity: The Democratic Party strives for equality of opportunity regardless of sex, age, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, or national origin. They support affirmative action and disability rights, having pushed for the ADA Amendments Act of 2008.
Democrats believe in the fundamental right to vote and oppose restrictive voter ID laws. They support automatic voter registration to ensure all eligible Americans can vote.
The party supports safe and legal abortion, advocating for affordable health care and programs supporting women during and after pregnancy.
Democrats endorse comprehensive immigration reform that aligns with American economic goals and values. They support easier paths to citizenship, visa allocations meeting economic needs, family unity, and oppose state laws targeting immigrants.
The Democratic Party opposes discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. They support the Equality Act, anti-bullying prevention, marriage equality, and the Respect for Marriage Act.
The Democratic Party aims to reduce crime and homicide through various gun control measures. Notable legislation includes the Gun Control Act of 1968, the Brady Bill of 1993, and the Crime Control Act of 1994.
Despite the general support for gun control within the party, some Democrats, particularly those from rural, Southern, and Western regions, favor fewer restrictions on firearm possession.
The Democratic Party believes in the fundamental right to privacy. Many Democrats have opposed the NSA's warrantless surveillance of U.S.
citizens, advocating instead for stronger consumer protection laws that limit data sharing between corporations. They also oppose "sodomy laws," asserting that the government should not regulate consensual noncommercial sexual conduct among adults as a matter of personal privacy.
Initially, most Democrats supported the Patriot Act, with only a few dissenting votes. However, over time, the party's stance has shifted, with many Democrats now opposing the act.
The divide became evident during the 2006 renewal vote, where Democrats were split on the issue.
The Democratic Party favors a multilateral approach to foreign policy, emphasizing international cooperation and human rights. Polls indicate broad agreement among Democrats on key foreign policy issues, although there are divergences on matters such as international cooperation through agencies like the UN.
Democrats tend to prefer focusing on domestic issues over extensive international involvement but recognize the importance of promoting democracy and freedom globally to enhance U.S. security.
The Democratic Party's stance on trade has evolved, with the 2020 platform supporting fair and free trade agreements like the USMCA. The party opposes practices such as offshoring, dumping, and intellectual property theft, advocating for trade policies that protect American jobs and industries.
Democrats have supported sanctions against nations that pose threats to global security, such as North Korea and Russia, while advocating for diplomatic solutions. The party emphasizes the importance of alliances and international agreements to address global challenges like nuclear proliferation and climate change.
The Democratic Party maintains a strong commitment to Israel's security, viewing a stable Israel as vital to U.S. strategic interests.
The party supports military aid to Israel, such as the Iron Dome system, and endorses peace treaties with neighboring countries. The platform advocates for a two-state solution, emphasizing that any Palestinian partner must recognize Israel's right to exist, reject violence, and adhere to existing agreements.
The party opposes efforts to delegitimize Israel on the world stage and calls for a peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The Democratic Party has consistently criticized Iran's nuclear weapons program and supported economic sanctions against the Iranian government. Under the Obama administration, the party worked toward a diplomatic agreement with Iran to halt its nuclear program in exchange for sanction relief.
The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2015 was a significant milestone, providing oversight of Iran's nuclear activities while easing economic sanctions.