When I wrote to Mark “Awful” Alford urging him to vote against the bill that guts rural development, housing, food aid, veterans’ support, and healthcare access for working families, I expected a real answer.
What I got instead was a generic form letter.
He called me a “valued client”—like I’m some customer at a bank, not a constituent. Then he spent the rest of the letter praising Donald Trump and J.D. Vance like they’re royalty. No explanation for the cuts. No mention of the bill itself. Not even an attempt to justify it.
He claimed the bill “focuses resources on families and national security.” Meanwhile, he voted to strip those same families of housing, food, and healthcare. And he did absolutely nothing to curb wasteful defense contractor spending that eats up billions of taxpayer dollars.
This is what it looks like when your congressman works for Washington donors and political action committees instead of Missouri families.
Mark “Awful” Alford has voted against Missouri again and again:
— He voted against expanding rural broadband.
— He voted against capping insulin prices for folks who need it most.
— He even voted to block flood recovery aid while pushing for more money to already-bloated Pentagon budgets.
He loves to talk about values. But he doesn’t live by ours. And frankly, that’s not surprising—he’s not from here, and it shows.
We deserve better.
I’m Ricky Dana, and when I’m elected as your congressman, I’ll work for you—not lobbyists, not billionaires, and sure as hell not Trump’s cronies.
By Ricky Dana, Candidate for U.S. House of Representatives, Missouri-4
Donald Trump is a convicted felon, found guilty on 34 felony counts—and now he’s dusting off the old Russia playbook to distract you from the scandal he really wants to hide: his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
The Justice Department, under Trump’s direct control, is reportedly reviving a grand jury investigation into 2016 election interference by Russia. If that sounds familiar, it’s because we’ve seen this movie before. And now, nearly a decade later, they’re trying to spin up a new chapter—not to seek justice, but to change the subject.
And who is Trump targeting this time? Not just Russia—he’s pointing the finger at President Obama, hoping to drag him into this mess as a political shield. This is a disgraceful use of power by a man convicted of crimes, trying to weaponize the federal government to take cheap shots at his predecessor. Trump isn’t interested in justice—he’s obsessed with revenge and self-preservation.
The hypocrisy is staggering. Trump stands convicted of falsifying records, inciting violence, and lying to the American people. Meanwhile, he’s using the DOJ as a political hit squad to smear the very man who handed him a peaceful transition of power. It’s cowardly, desperate, and beneath the dignity of the office he disgraced.
Let’s be clear: this is not about foreign influence or election integrity. It’s about misdirection. It’s about keeping the public focused on something—anything—other than the fact that Trump’s name appeared over and over in Epstein’s flight logs and contact records. The walls are closing in, and Trump knows it.
This Russia grand jury isn’t about national security. It’s about self-preservation. Trump is hoping that if he yells “look over there!” loud enough, you won’t notice the headlines about Epstein’s black book. But we see through it. And America deserves better than this corrupt circus act from a man who should never have held power in the first place.
Let’s not forget: Donald Trump publicly asked Russia to interfere in the 2016 election. On national television, he said, “Russia, if you’re listening…” and invited them to hack Hillary Clinton’s emails. That wasn’t fake news—it was a real moment broadcast to the world. It was collusion in plain sight, and now he’s hoping we forget all about it while he buries headlines about Epstein.
We need leaders who will focus on justice, accountability, and the real issues facing our communities—not felons who abuse government resources to cover their tracks.
When you send me to Washington in 2026, I’ll make sure our government works for you—not for the criminal elite trying to bury the truth with distraction tactics.
By Ricky Dana, Candidate for U.S. House – Missouri’s 4th District
President Donald Trump is running out of “look over there” tricks—and Americans are starting to notice.
His latest stunt? Accusing former President Obama of trying to “destroy the country,” without a shred of evidence. It’s classic Trump: throw out wild claims, stir up MAGA rage, and hope the headlines move away from his own dirty laundry. But it’s not working like it used to. Because people are finally asking real questions again—especially about his long friendship with Jeffrey Epstein.
President Trump can yell about Biden, Obama, immigrants, and windmills all he wants. But the walls are closing in. Epstein may be dead, but the trail of powerful men linked to him is not. The documents are surfacing. The survivor testimony is clear. And Donald Trump’s name is in the mix—again and again.
We all saw the footage. We’ve read the court records. And we’ve watched Trump’s tone change from smug denial to outright panic. The truth is, he knows what’s coming. And he’s terrified that America will finally see the full picture—one that can’t be redacted, buried, or blamed on someone else.
I believe the full truth will come out. I just hope it happens while he’s still alive to face the consequences of what he’s done—or what he allowed to happen on his watch. No man is above the law. Not even the sitting President of the United States.
We deserve better leadership. We deserve honest answers. And when I’m elected as your congressman, I’ll fight like hell to make sure predators and their protectors don’t get to hide behind power ever again.
Missouri Republicans are quietly circulating new redistricting maps—months after the last election, and right in the middle of the decade. One of those maps was leaked to me by an anonymous source who’s familiar with internal discussions happening behind closed doors.
Let’s be clear: redrawing congressional districts midterm is not only unusual, it’s likely unconstitutional. Article III, Section 45 of the Missouri Constitution says that redistricting happens after the decennial census—not whenever one party wants to give itself an advantage.
This map would shake up representation across Missouri. It slices up communities—especially rural ones—just to protect Republican incumbents and eliminate competitive races. It’s designed for power, not fairness.
Missourians deserve better than this. We deserve fair maps drawn through a lawful and transparent process—not gerrymandered districts created in backrooms with no public input.
I’m sounding the alarm because if they succeed with this power grab, they’ll do it again and again. We’ve got to stop it before it even starts.
When I’m elected as your congressman, I’ll fight to end partisan gerrymandering and protect your vote—every time, not just when it benefits the party in power.
— Ricky Dana, Candidate for U.S. House, Missouri-4
If they try this midterm map stunt, it’ll be an easy win for me. So go for it, buddies.
If you keep voting for the same people, you’re going to keep getting the same betrayal.
Now they’re pushing a midterm redistricting plan—illegal under Missouri’s Constitution—because they can’t win fair and square. This is about power, not the people.
Mark “Awful” Alford is no different. Most of his campaign cash comes from out-of-state PACs. That’s who he listens to. That’s who he works for. And his voting record proves it—he’s stood against Missouri’s best interests time and time again.
You deserve a representative who actually lives like you do, works like you do, and votes like you would. I was born and raised right here in rural Missouri, and when I’m elected as your congressman, I will never sell my vote to the highest bidder. I’ll fight for our farm families, our towns, and our future.
If you’re tired of getting sold out, stop voting for the ones doing the selling.
By Ricky Dana, Candidate for U.S. House – Missouri District 4
Republicans in Jefferson City are pushing for a special session to redraw Missouri’s congressional map. The goal? To force a mid-decade redistricting that flips another House seat their way. Let’s call it what it is—an unconstitutional power grab.
Missouri’s Constitution is clear. Congressional maps are to be drawn after the U.S. Census, not every time one political party wants to stack the deck. Article III, Section 45 of the Missouri Constitution states that districts must be drawn by the General Assembly after census certification and must be “contiguous,” “as compact as may be,” and “as nearly equal in population as may be.” There is no language allowing redistricting between censuses simply for partisan gain.
There is no lawsuit triggering this. No court order demanding a fix. No population shifts so extreme they require immediate correction. This effort is not about fairness or legality. It’s about politics—plain and simple.
And that’s exactly why the Missouri Supreme Court should step in and shut this down before it starts. If allowed to move forward, this sets a dangerous precedent: that any supermajority can call a special session whenever it feels like rigging the map to its own benefit. That’s not representative government. That’s rigged government.
Let me be clear: If Republicans in this state can’t win unless they redraw the map mid-cycle, that says more about their ideas than it does about our voters. If your policies can’t win fair and square, maybe they don’t deserve to win at all.
The integrity of our elections and the voice of every Missouri voter is on the line. I urge the Missouri Supreme Court to take immediate action and block this unconstitutional scheme before the damage is done.
When you send me to Washington in the 2026 elections, I’ll never vote against Missouri or our communities—and especially not our Constitution.
After lawfully investigating Donald Trump’s classified documents case and his effort to overturn the 2020 election, former Special Counsel Jack Smith is now being targeted—not by the courts, but by Trump’s political allies.
On August 2, 2025, the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) confirmed it has opened a Hatch Act investigation into Jack Smith. This follows a partisan referral from Republican Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas, who accused Smith of trying to damage Trump politically before the 2024 election.
The facts don’t back that up. Smith and former Attorney General Merrick Garland made it clear that the investigations were driven by evidence—not politics. And when Trump retook office in 2025, the DOJ was required by policy to drop the charges, because it cannot prosecute a sitting president.
That’s not corruption. That’s process. Jack Smith followed the rules. He made no political statements. He didn’t hold press conferences to sway voters. He didn’t leak documents. He conducted investigations, secured indictments, and stepped back when DOJ policy demanded it.
But now he’s being punished for it.
This Is Not What the Hatch Act Was Meant For
The Hatch Act prohibits government employees from using their official roles for political activity. That means no campaigning from the office. No making policy to benefit a party. It does not ban legal investigations into public officials.
To say that Smith violated the Hatch Act just for investigating Trump sets a dangerous precedent: it implies that no prosecutor can touch a political figure during campaign season. That’s not law. That’s cowardice.
Tom Cotton’s Outrage Is a Joke—And a Double Standard
Let’s talk about hypocrisy.
Senator Tom Cotton isn’t bound by the Hatch Act—because it applies to executive branch employees. But there’s a Senate equivalent: the Senate Ethics Committee, which exists to stop lawmakers from misusing their office for political payback.
And that’s exactly what Tom Cotton is doing. He didn’t cite any actual misconduct. He didn’t uncover any political bias. He just didn’t like that Jack Smith built a case against Trump—so he used his office to go after a public servant who did his job.
This isn’t accountability. It’s political retaliation.
If you flipped the party labels, Republicans would be screaming about “weaponizing government.” But when it’s one of their own? They cheer it on.
Tom Cotton’s stunt is the same kind of targeted abuse the Hatch Act is supposed to stop—he just found a loophole. If there were a Hatch Act for Senators, Cotton would already be under investigation.
Trump Is Weaponizing the Government to Silence His Enemies
This Hatch Act probe isn’t about justice. It’s about revenge. Just like:
Trump’s executive order targeting the law firm that represented Jack Smith
The DOJ’s new “Weaponization Working Group” run by Trump allies to investigate former prosecutors
Efforts to criminalize those who stood up to Trump’s abuses of power
This is how authoritarian governments operate: they bend the law to crush dissent. They punish the people who dare to challenge the powerful. And they create a climate where truth becomes dangerous.
I grew up in rural Missouri. I know right from wrong. Jack Smith followed the law. Trump just got caught.
When I’m your congressman, I’ll never vote against Missouri or our communities—especially not the folks who feed America and defend our democracy.
“When you send me to DC in the 2026 election, I’ll stand up to political retaliation—no matter who’s in power.”
By Ricky Dana, Candidate for U.S. House – Missouri 4
“United we stand, divided we fall.” Our Founders weren’t just talking about fighting foreign threats. They meant it right here at home—across party lines. That’s how America grew into the strongest democracy in the world. But today, we are dangerously divided, and it’s tearing us apart.
It didn’t used to be this way. Democrats and Republicans used to work together to solve big problems. They passed civil rights laws. Built highways. Protected farmers. Raised wages. Balanced budgets. That cooperation led to decades of growth, innovation, and strength.
Now, Congress is packed with career politicians who won’t even talk to someone from the other party unless it’s about money or power. They vote based on who donates the most—not what their communities need. This isn’t public service—it’s auctioning off our future.
This isn’t just wrong. It’s dangerous.
Democracy only works when we work together. When we listen. When we compromise. If we keep electing leaders who refuse to meet in the middle, the American experiment will fail. And it will fail soon.
That’s why I’m asking you to commit right now:
Only vote for candidates who will work across the aisle. That’s it. Ask them. Demand it. If they won’t do it—don’t vote for them.
I’m not afraid to work with anyone—Republican, Democrat, or Independent—if it means doing right by the folks here in Missouri’s 4th District. My loyalty is to our families, our farms, our schools, and our future—not to any party or donor.
We need common-sense leaders who put people over politics. Leaders who show up. Who fight for you. And who know that unity is the only path forward. This campaign isn’t about blue or red—it’s about right and wrong. It’s about saving our democracy while we still can.
Let’s bring back real leadership. Let’s return to bipartisanship. And let’s prove that America can still lead—not because we shout the loudest, but because we work the hardest, together.
By Ricky Dana, Candidate for U.S. House – Missouri’s 4th District
Trump Just Fired the Nation’s Jobs Statistician
Today, Trump fired Erika McEntarfer, the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, just because the jobs report showed weaker numbers than he wanted. There’s no proof she did anything wrong. She was just doing her job. This move makes it harder for anyone to trust what our government reports about the economy going forward. It’s a dangerous overreach.
When a president punishes people for telling the truth, we all lose. This is about political control—not transparency.
Trump’s Tariffs = Higher Prices
Trump is putting new tariffs on 66 countries starting August 7. Tariffs are just taxes in disguise. They make things more expensive for all of us.
Experts say the average American household will pay over $1,200 more in 2025, and nearly $1,500 more in 2026 because of these new tariffs. That’s money taken straight from working families—especially farmers and small-town folks who already feel the pinch.
And no, these tariffs won’t bring back American jobs. In fact, manufacturing has already dropped 37,000 jobs since April.
Markets Are Shaking
Stock markets dropped. Long-term growth looks shaky. And consumer confidence is falling. Even Wall Street is starting to worry that Trump’s policies are doing long-term harm to the U.S. economy. People are pulling back because they don’t know what’s coming next.
This chaos hurts small business owners, investors, farmers, and regular folks who are just trying to get by.
We’re Losing Our Friends Around the World
Our allies are angry—and pulling away. Trump’s new tariffs hit countries like Canada, Mexico, and India hard. Canada is now in a full trade war with us. Mexico is considering retaliation. India is turning toward other partners. The EU is distancing itself from the U.S. and building new defense plans without us.
Why does this matter? Because strong allies mean strong national security and better trade deals. Trump is making sure we have neither.
Final Thoughts
This kind of reckless leadership is not making America great. It’s hurting workers, raising prices, weakening trust in government, and damaging our reputation around the world.
Missouri’s working families deserve better than this. We deserve honesty, stability, and leadership that helps—not hurts—everyday people.
You may have seen the article in the El Dorado Springs Sun. If you didn’t, it’s about Mark “Awful” Alford launching a “Heartland Hotline”—a phone number he says will connect him to rural Missourians.
But let’s be real: this is just damage control.
Mark “Awful” Alford has been voting against the best interests of folks in Missouri’s 4th District for years. And now that people are catching on, he’s scrambling to pretend he cares.
He wasn’t born here.
He wasn’t raised here.
He didn’t farm here.
He doesn’t live the life rural Missourians live every day.
This hotline is about optics, not outreach. It’s not a lifeline—it’s a cut cord, just like the connection he’s had to our rural communities all along.
And while Alford’s campaign is bankrolled by big-money donors from Washington, Kansas, and beyond—I’m building this campaign with grassroots support from real Missourians who live and work here, just like I do.
So ask yourself:
Do you want Missouri represented by someone bought and paid for by out-of-state interests?
Or do you want someone who knows your struggles, shares your values, and won’t sell you out for PAC money?
Let’s bring real representation back to Missouri’s 4th.
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
