Jon Thorp

For nearly 25 years, I’ve been responsible for the safe conduct of others—from Army helicopters over Afghan mountains to commercial aircraft across American skies. My career began in the military, where I led not just machines, but teams and missions, often in complex and high-stakes environments. As a pilot, I don't just fly—I command the aircraft, the crew, and the trust of every passenger on board. Over time, the cockpit’s gotten more complex, and the passengers have changed. But the mission hasn’t changed: protect those in my charge, navigate uncertainty with discipline, and always arrive with integrity intact. That mindset—clear-headed accountability, people-first leadership, and mission focus—is exactly what I believe is missing from Congress. I’m running because the people of Tennessee’s 7th District deserve representatives who serve them with the same level of responsibility and urgency I’ve carried throughout my career. I didn’t come from politics. I come from real-world leadership where excuses don’t land planes and blame doesn’t fix problems. It’s time to bring that kind of honest, mission-driven discipline to Washington.

I believe in the traditional American promise—that through hard work and personal responsibility, each generation can build a better life than the one before. But that dream is fading, not because our values have failed, but because government overreach, debt, and distortion have broken the ladder. Protecting religious freedom and individual liberty means restoring the conditions that made the American Dream possible in the first place.

Described as Tennessee's "AOC." Lots of press appearances. Seems to be the frontrunner for the DNC.