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Meet Chris James: Grounded Leadership for a Stronger Arizona

Chris James is a nationally recognized economic strategist, small business advocate, and dedicated public servant – but before any of that, he was a kid growing up in rural America. In his close-knit community, where every dollar mattered, Chris learned the power of perseverance, faith, and service. His parents embodied entrepreneurial spirit—running a small business while his father farmed the land and taught choir—his grandmother curated handcrafted goods in her craft shop on the Qualla Boundary, ancestral home of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and his grandfather served with compassion as a Methodist minister. From them, Chris inherited a deep respect for hard work and a relentless commitment to family, heritage, and community – values that continue to define every chapter of his life.

Today, Chris lives in Gilbert, Arizona, where he and his wife, Piret, have raised their three children – all proud graduates of Gilbert Public Schools and now enrolled in college, including one at Arizona State. He’s running for Congress in Arizona’s 5th District because he believes our country needs more leaders who listen, lead with integrity, and focus on solutions—not soundbites. In a time when families are being divided by politics, Chris believes we deserve leaders who unite rather than inflame, and who are more interested in fixing problems than scoring cheap soundbite points.

Chris began his public service career as a senior executive at the U.S. Department of the Treasury under President Obama—his first role in government—where he managed more than $350 million in investments to expand access to capital, support community lenders, and revitalize underserved communities. That experience laid the foundation for a career defined by impact, innovation, and inclusion.

He went on to lead national field operations for the U.S. Small Business Administration. There, Chris oversaw a $300 million budget and half the agency’s workforce, launching nationally recognized programs like Startup in a Day, SupplierPay, and the American Supplier Initiative—initiatives that cut red tape, accelerated payments to small vendors, and opened doors for women- and minority-owned businesses. He also founded the Small Business Technology Coalition to help entrepreneurs compete in a digital economy.

CHRIS JAMES PRIORITIES

A Bridge Builder Delivering Federal Impact Beyond Politics

Chris has always focused on bringing federal resources to the communities that need them most. He forged groundbreaking partnerships between federal agencies and local governments across all 50 states and U.S. territories—because he understood that most of the time the best solutions to local problems don’t originate in Washington. Through it all, he’s built a reputation as someone who brings people together, gets things done, and delivers results where others get stuck in politics.

His expertise and steady leadership have earned him appointments across three presidential administrations—Obama, Trump, and Biden—a rare distinction that speaks to the bipartisan respect he’s earned. Under President Trump, Chris was appointed to the FCC’s Advisory Committee on Diversity and Digital Empowerment, where he helped expand broadband access and digital inclusion in marginalized communities. Under President Biden, he served on the Biden-Harris Transition Team, co-chaired Native economic policy strategy, and was appointed to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, where he continues to serve—elevating the voices of Native and underserved communities in national and global trade discussions.

Chris currently serves as President and CEO of National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development based in Arizona, dedicated to advancing Native American and small business growth. Under his leadership, the organization has grown by over 650%, now serving more than 4,000 businesses annually and partnering with global companies like Microsoft, Amazon, and Google. It has also expanded its presence into key international markets—specifically New Zealand, Australia, and Canada. His work has helped create jobs, open new markets, and bring investment to communities often overlooked by the political establishment. In this role, Chris has testified on economic development policy before Congress, drafted bipartisan legislation that was ultimately signed into law, and worked closely with both Republicans and Democrats to advance solutions that empower small businesses and work to ensure our economy works for everyone.

Now, Chris is running for Congress in Arizona’s 5th District to bring that same practical, grounded, and unifying leadership to Washington. He’s not interested in fueling division—he’s focused on fixing what’s broken, fighting for everyday Arizonans, and building a government that actually works for the people. Chris believes elected officials should answer to the communities they represent, and he’s committed to holding himself accountable to the citizens of Arizona’s 5th District every step of the way. In a democracy, leadership isn’t about winning arguments—it’s about delivering results. And that’s exactly what Chris James is ready to do.

Educating for the Future

As a proud father of three students who graduated from Gilbert public schools and are now financing their college educations with student loans, Chris understands firsthand that education is the key to long‐term economic success— not just for families, but for our entire region. From early childhood through higher education and workforce training, he believes every student in Arizona’s 5th District deserves access to high‐quality, affordable learning opportunities. And every educator deserves the support necessary to deliver an excellent education.

As your Congressman, Chris will fight to:

  • Increase investment in K–12 education, boosting funding for public schools and ensuring competitive teacher pay that attracts and retains top talent.
  • Expand STEM and CTE pathways, partnering with schools, research institutions, and industry to equip students with 21st‐century skills and clear routes into high‐demand careers.
  • Promote trade schools and apprenticeships, supporting vocational training programs that offer affordable, direct paths into skilled trades and help meet local workforce needs.
  • Strengthen and resource our community college system, capping tuition growth, expanding transfer agreements, and enhancing workforce‐training programs to make postsecondary education more accessible and affordable.
  • Lower the overall cost of higher education and reduce student debt, through tuition freezes at state universities, expanded grant and scholarship programs, and incentives for schools to control fees.
  • Support early childhood education and universal pre‐K, ensuring every child in Arizona’s 5th District has access to high‐quality learning experiences from day one.
  • Enhance workforce development, by creating robust upskilling and reskilling initiatives, fostering public‐private partnerships that connect job seekers with employers, and expanding adult education and continuing‐education programs to keep pace with a rapidly evolving economy.

Chris understands that preparing the next generation for success means modernizing how we educate and train our workforce — and he’ll make that a priority in Congress.

Smart Infrastructure

Arizona’s economy, safety, and quality of life all depend on infrastructure that works — and Chris James is ready to deliver federal investments that meet today’s needs and tomorrow’s challenges. That means fixing what’s broken and building for the future with sustainability, equity, and efficiency in mind.

As your Congressman, Chris will fight to:

  • Modernize our transportation and water infrastructure by upgrading roads, expanding reliable public transit options, and revitalizing water systems with cost‐efficient, future‐proof designs.
  • Back pragmatic clean‐energy and resilience projects, investing in affordable renewable solutions and fortifying key assets against extreme weather—including dust storms–creating good‐paying local jobs without overburdening taxpayers.
  • Bridge the digital divide by extending high‐speed, affordable broadband to underserved neighborhoods, so students, small businesses, and healthcare providers can compete in today’s economy.
  • Empower our local workforce and businesses by prioritizing hiring of local workers and contracting with small businesses on public‐works projects, keeping taxpayer dollars circulating right here at home.
  • Ensure fiscal responsibility and bipartisan oversight through rigorous cost‐benefit reviews and cross‐aisle collaboration, so every dollar we invest delivers real value for taxpayers.

Chris will bring smart, strategic infrastructure solutions home to Arizona’s 5th — creating jobs, protecting our natural resources, and making daily life better for all of us.

Jobs & Economic Growth & Community Resilience

Chris James believes a strong economy is built on opportunity, collaboration, and respect for all stakeholders. He will cut bureaucratic barriers and champion public‐private partnerships that leverage private innovation and public support to drive local growth.

As your Congressman, he will fight for:

  • Expanded access to low‐interest loans, grants, and community financing, so entrepreneurs and small businesses—especially in suburban areas—can secure the capital they need to grow.
  • Streamlined regulations that cut red tape, accelerate innovation, and make it easier to launch and scale startups.
  • Protect the right to collectively bargain, recognizing that strong, fair relationships between workers and employers are essential to a thriving Arizona economy.
  • Incentives for job creation to bring jobs closer to home, through targeted tax credits, public‐private partnerships, and local‐hiring initiatives.
  • Promotion of advanced manufacturing and fintech development, offering targeted incentives, infrastructure investments, and workforce partnerships to bring high‐tech, clean‐tech, and financial‐technology manufacturers to AZ‐5.
  • Robust vocational, technical, and apprenticeship programs, delivered through community colleges, trade schools, and industry collaborations aligned with Arizona’s fastest‐growing sectors.
  • Dedicated support for emergency services and first responders, streamlining and expanding federal grant programs so police, fire departments, and EMS have easy‐to‐access funding for equipment, training, and personnel.
  • Enhanced disaster‐response funding for nonprofits and community‐based organizations, simplifying federal grants and fostering coordination so local NGOs, faith groups, and volunteer teams can lead rapid, community‐driven recovery when fires, floods, or power-outage causing dust storms strike.

Dedicated support for tribal communities, reinforcing treaty commitments, safeguarding tribal sovereignty, and investing in reservation‐based businesses and infrastructure.

Healthcare & Protecting Our Seniors

When Chris James’s father suffered a massive stroke, he witnessed Medicare’s 1960s‐era framework buckle under modern demands—drowning in paperwork, fighting coverage denials, and watching a lifetime of savings vanish in medical bills. No Arizonan should have to choose between their health and their financial security. As your Congressman, Chris will bring common‐sense, fiscally responsible reforms that modernize care, protect personal choice, and deliver high‐quality services without breaking the bank.

As your Congressman, he will fight to:

  • Modernize Medicare by updating outdated rules to cover dental, vision, hearing, mental‐health, and home‐based services—ensuring seniors receive the full spectrum of care they deserve.
  • Protect personal autonomy, affirming every individual’s right to make decisions about their own body and health—whether it’s family planning, mental‐health treatment, or end‐of‐life options—without undue government intrusion.
  • Expand choice and transparency, with user‐friendly plan comparisons, seamless portability across jobs or retirement, and flexible supplemental options (HSAs, high‐deductible plans) tailored to your needs.
  • Harness technology and telehealth, creating interoperable digital records and removing licensing barriers so providers can share information securely and treat patients across state lines.
  • Strengthen local access to care, boosting federal grants for critical‐access hospitals, community clinics, and mobile units so every neighborhood has access to timely, high‐quality treatment.
  • Encourage public‐private partnerships, leveraging federal grants and private innovation to pilot cost‐saving delivery models, improve drug‐pricing transparency, and support community wellness initiatives.
  • Safeguard patients and taxpayers, through bipartisan cost‐benefit reviews of new benefits, tougher fraud enforcement, and strict accountability for every healthcare dollar spent.

By putting patients—not politicians—at the center, Chris will build an Arizona healthcare system that balances personal freedom, modern coverage, and fiscal discipline, ready to serve families and seniors for generations to come.

Protecting Our Democracy

Chris James believes democracy should work for the people – not special interests, partisan extremists, or election deniers. He knows that trust in our system is earned through transparency, fairness, and consistent access to the ballot box. As someone who’s worked at the local and national levels to expand civic engagement, Chris is ready to fight back against attacks on voting rights and rebuild faith in our institutions from the ground up.

As your Congressman, Chris will fight to:

  • Protect the freedom to vote by opposing voter suppression laws, restoring the Voting Rights Act, and expanding early voting, vote-by-mail, and same-day registration.
  • Keep elections fair and secure by fully funding local election departments, bolstering cybersecurity, and defending nonpartisan election administration from political interference.
  • End corporations grip on D.C by strengthening transparency laws, supporting campaign finance reform, and holding bad actors accountable.
  • Ensure fair representation through independent redistricting and defend against gerrymandering that silences voters.
  • Champion civic education and youth engagement, ensuring that the next generation understands how government works – and how to make it work better.

Chris knows that a healthy democracy demands both participation and protection. He’ll stand up for every Arizonan’s right to be heard, counted, and represented — because your vote is your power, and he’ll never stop defending it.

The Bottom Line: It’s About Bringing People Together to Solve Problems

Chris has built his career on forging practical, bipartisan solutions—and he knows firsthand the struggles of Arizona’s middle class, balancing family budgets, saving for college, and planning for retirement. Like many in the district, he’s fed up with political posturing and wants real results. That’s why Chris is committed to listening more, fighting less, and always putting people before politics to get things done.

As your Congressman, Chris will:

  • Work across the aisle to strengthen our economy, protect our democracy, and practice fiscal discipline—because lasting solutions require both parties.
  • Find common‐sense, bipartisan solutions for immigration reform and border security that keep our communities safe, establish clear work‐visa pathways for immigrants to contribute legally, and empower small businesses to sponsor the skilled workers they need.
  • Champion middle‐class priorities, including affordable healthcare, lowering student debt, and expanding workforce development so every family can get ahead.
  • Deliver for veterans, seniors, and working families by improving access to quality care, boosting local job training programs, and supporting our community college system.
  • Lead with civility and integrity—not partisan talking points—ensuring transparency and accountability every step of the way.
  • Chris will be the kind of leader who shows up, listens to every voice, and delivers results—because progress isn’t about parties, it’s about people.