Heidi St. John

Heidi St. John (Republican Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Washington's 3rd Congressional District. She lost in the primary on August 2, 2022.

St. John completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Heidi St. John was born in Portland, Oregon. Her career experience includes working as an author, public speaker, co-founder of Firmly Planted Homeschool Resource Center, and host of the pocast "Off the Bench". St. John has served with Home School Legal Defense Association as a board member and has been affiliated with Firmly Planted Family.^[1]

Elections

2022

General election

General election for U.S. House Washington District 3

Marie Gluesenkamp Perez defeated Joe Kent in the general election for U.S. House Washington District 3 on November 8, 2022.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D)	50.1	160,314
	Joe Kent (R)	49.3	157,685
	Other/Write-in votes	0.6	1,760

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 319,759
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for U.S. House Washington District 3

The following candidates ran in the primary for U.S. House Washington District 3 on August 2, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D)	31.0	68,190
✔		Joe Kent (R)	22.8	50,097
		Jaime Herrera Beutler (R)	22.3	49,001
		Heidi St. John (R)	16.0	35,219
		Vicki Kraft (R)	3.2	7,033
		Davy Ray (D)	2.2	4,870
		Chris Byrd (Independent)	1.7	3,817
		Leslie French (R)	0.5	1,100
	Submit photo	Oliver Black (American Solidarity Party)	0.2	456
		Other/Write-in votes	0.1	142

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 219,925
= 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.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Endorsements

To view St. John's endorsements in the 2022 election, please click here.

Campaign themes

2022

Video for Ballotpedia

Video submitted to Ballotpedia Released June 15, 2022

Ballotpedia survey responses

Heidi St. John completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by St. John's responses.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

For nearly twenty years, my husband and I have been building our small business and raising our family in beautiful SW Washington. We are blessed that our grandchildren are also being raised here–and we hope that one day, they will want to raise their own families here.

Our nation is at a crossroads. The next elections will determine whether or not we implement the failed policies of socialism or restore the values that made the United States a beacon of hope for the whole world.

Like many of you, I am deeply concerned with the direction our nation is headed under Joe Biden and the Democrats. Most of us know that we are heading in the wrong direction. Soaring inflation, the loss of medical freedom, the disregard for parental authority in our schools, the embracing of socialism and our increasingly unsustainable debt speak to the fact that we desperately need new leadership.

America was built on the simple premise of “Citizen Statesmen” going to Washington to represent the interests of the citizens who elected them. I have a lifelong, proven record of voting for and implementing Conservative values, and believe I am the right voice to represent SW Washington at this time in our nation’s history.

I believe in limited government, which produces the fruit of freedom. As your representative, I will boldly stand and defend the Constitution, our 2nd Amendment and our freedom. I will fight to restore America to once again be a place of unequaled opportunity and hope.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

America was founded on the principles of individual liberty—but for decades, our elected officials have been eroding our freedom, not defending it. Socialism threatens our way of life and I’m running for Congress to stop it. Biden’s Marxist Democrat Green New Deal Agenda of endless government handouts and other welfare giveaways has given us record inflation. Angry woke progressives are tearing America apart, and they get their way because weak Republicans won’t stand up to them. Democrats want to force us out of our cars, control our kids, ban our faith,our freedom, and even our hamburgers! Democrats want us as obedient servants existing only to serve and produce for the state. That’s not freedom. It’s Communism.
Our children are our future. Sadly, in America today, they are being targeted by Socialist ideologues and sexual activists who are confusing our kids about everything from American history to gender. The time has come for the Federal Government to get OUT of education so that schools are controlled locally. This gives parents a greater voice in the education of their children. The Federal government should never give money to Critical Race Theory or Planned Parenthood, who pushes dangerous sexual ideologies in schools all across the nation. I will always stand for parental rights in deciding what is best for their children’s education.
Why should taxpayers pay to promote ideologies that attack America, free enterprise, traditional values or which just seek to divide people? Why should taxpayers fund any of this? It's time to look at the federal government's role in the breakdown of our Republic and Republicans need to take the lead to cut off the spigot and put taxpayers first.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

From energy to education, policy shapes a nation. I believe the role of the Federal Government should be limited and precise.

Education should be a top priority for the United States. So many of our current struggles hinge on the things we are teaching in our public schools, and the intrusion of the Federal Government into education. I believe we need to abolish the Department of Education and return this responsibility back to the states, and especially, to local districts and parents. The Federal Government should stop funding things like Critical Race Theory and Comprehensive Sex Ed. Instead, we should promote the importance of school choice, healthy families and local involvement. Let's take control from DC and return it to parents where it belongs.

Congress needs to stay in its lane. We should stop forcing those who choose work over college to subsidize those who chose college over work. Instead, Congress should focus on bringing this nation back from the brink of bankruptcy to fiscal responsibility. We must stop approving trillion dollar omnibus bills which are full of special interest money and instead make sure our grandchildren can afford to chase the American dream as our grandparents did.

We must reject socialism, secure our borders, produce our own energy and defend the Constitution boldly and without apology. We are a nation of laws and it's time to restore a sense of safety and security here at home rather than focus resources on foreign countries.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I look up to people who are bold and unafraid to stand for what they believe is right. I admire integrity, faithfulness, and service to others. My list is short but meaningful to me:

Jay St. John, my husband of nearly 33 years, for his example of selflessness and faithfulness to our family

Mike Farris: President of the Alliance Defending Freedom for his constant, tireless work in defending freedom and parental rights

Jack Hibbs, Sr. Pastor of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills for his fearless defense of our Constitution and bold proclamation of the gospel

Mary Miller, Congresswoman from Illinois, whose work ethic and undaunted spirit inspires me. Like me, she is also a mother of seven!

Rob McCoy, Sr Pastor of Godspeak Calvary Chapel, he showed that he could be both a pastor and hold an elected office. He has done much to bring good leadership to his city while standing for freedom

Rick Green, Founder of Patriot Academy. He is educating our nation on the Constitution and in so-doing, helping the rising generation to see the value in defending liberty

Rush Limbaugh, radio personality. For telling it like it is

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Listen to concerns of the people they represent

Spend time in the District (don't live away from home) Make good financial decisions Tell the truth about proposed legislation Keep the Federal Govt from expanding further outside it's jurisdiction Adhere to the Constitution

To propose and support legislation that is in the best interest of the country as a whole, and of the community you represent. Instead of passing more laws -- particularly those that abuse the General Welfare and Commerce clauses -- Congress should pass laws that actually solve the problems they purport to address, without creating unintended consequences that require still more laws to fix.

What legacy would you like to leave?

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

What is your favorite book? Why?

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?

The Constitution gave the U.S. House of Representatives a unique set of powers within the federal government. The idea was simple—that each district would have direct access to the people they were elected to serve.

James Madison of Virginia, the father of the Constitution and the House’s most important statesman in the early Congresses, believed the House should have “an immediate dependence on, and intimate sympathy with, the people.” (house.gov)

Unlike the Senate, the House is not a continuing body. Its Members must stand for election every two years. This makes it hard on the members, who end up campaigning every other year, but it does allow for greater representation. It truly is the “People’s House.”

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

What do you perceive to be the United States' greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

If you are not a current representative, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?

What are your thoughts on term limits?

There are arguments in favor of term limits, as well as against.

Pros of term limits: Politicians don't "go Washington" and become out of touch with their constituents. Also, fresh faces bring fresh perspectives and new ideas.

Cons of term limits: Serving successive terms gives one experience, and the clout to move important legislation. And having a large number of inexperienced lawmakers in the legislative body increases the influence of lobbyists and political activists.

On balance, I think term limits are going to become necessary, especially in lieu of an engaged electorate.

Is there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

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?

I have spent the last 17 years hearing stories from residents in the 3rd District. Many of them are parents, who are heartbroken regarding the innocence that the schools are taking from their children and the lack of good education in the "3 R's." More recently, it's friends and neighbors who have been deeply affected by the unconstitutional lockdowns and loss of jobs for refusing to take a vaccine. Most notably, I met a member of our military who was discharged after thirty years of honorable service. The reason? He had an adverse reaction to a flu shot in 1998 and therefore was contraindicated for the Covid vaccine. For this, he lost his job. This kind of government overreach is part of the reason I'm running for congress.

Tell us your favorite joke.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

The Constitution says that all bills for raising revenue must originate in the House. What role would this power play in your priorities if elected?

The House has the power of the purse -- the ability to tax and spend. This confers a unique responsibility to spend the nation's wealth wisely, and to root out fraud, waste and abuse. Taxpayers should not be treated as cash cows, and continually squeezed for increasingly greater shares of their incomes. I am for limited government -- as our Founding Fathers intended. Congress needs to stay within its jurisdictional boundaries, as delineated in our Constitution.

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.