My name is Da’shone Hughey, and I am running for Congress because the people are tired of being ignored, tired of being forgotten, and tired of a government that serves everyone except the people it was meant to protect.

Let me be plain: government should serve the people not career politicians, not special interests, and not political insiders who have spent years building power while families struggle to survive.

When we say “We the People,” we are making a promise. That promise means the government belongs to you. You do not belong to the government. And if I am elected, I will answer to you. I will listen to you. I will fight for you. And I will not stop until the people of District 8 have a government that works for them, not against them.

For more than 20 years, I have dedicated my life to creating opportunity through education, technology, workforce development, and entrepreneurship. As the founder of CODEIT Institute of Technology and AI City Robotics, I have helped students and working adults prepare for real careers in software engineering, artificial intelligence, robotics, cybersecurity, and other high-demand fields.

Because I know this truth: talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not.

Too many families have been left behind—not because they lack talent, not because they lack determination, but because they lack access. That is unacceptable. My life’s work has been about building pathways, opening doors, and giving people the chance to rise.

My commitment to service reaches beyond New Jersey. From Uganda to Israel to communities across Latin America, I have worked with innovators, educators, and leaders to prove that technology and entrepreneurship can strengthen communities and expand economic opportunity.

I am also the author of PhD Ready by 18, a call to our young people and our emerging workforce to stop waiting, start preparing, and step boldly into the future.

Now I am bringing that same vision to New Jersey’s 8th Congressional District.

Because the people of Hudson, Essex, and Union Counties are under attack from rising costs, crushing housing prices, public safety concerns, transportation problems, and the constant struggle to find good-paying jobs that can support a family and build a future.

These are not abstract issues. These are not headlines. These are real people, real homes, and real pain.

And Washington has not done enough.

We must lower the cost of living. We must expand affordable housing. We must support small businesses. We must strengthen education. We must invest in workforce development. And we must build real pathways to opportunity for the next generation.

I am not asking for your vote because I am a politician.

I am asking for your vote because I have spent my life doing the work—building solutions, creating opportunity, and delivering results.

This campaign is for the people who have been overlooked.
This campaign is for the families who have been squeezed.
This campaign is for the young people who deserve a future.
And this campaign is for every person who believes government should answer to the people.

The time for excuses is over.
The time for empty promises is over.
The time for change is now.

It is time to stand up.
It is time to fight back.
It is time to give government back to the people.

Thank you, and God bless you.