7 in 10 Candidates Have a History of Arrests

The U.S. presidential season has kicked off. But let’s not forget that. In fact, during the same election period, there’s not just the presidential race but also the Congressional race.

Right now, in every state across the nation, individuals are vying for a seat in Congress. Their shared aim: to enter the building behind me, Capitol Hill, represent the constituents from their home districts, and engage in legislative proceedings.

Today, we’re gonna talk about the Congressional race in Colorado’s 4th Congressional District. Last week, during the GOP primary debate, candidates created quite an interesting moment.

During the debate, some audience posed a direct question to the candidates: Show your hands here. Have you ever been arrested?

To everyone's surprise, among the 9 candidates on the stage, 6 candidates raised their hands.

One of them is the current Representative for Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District, Lauren Boebert. Bobert faced a disorderly conduct arrest after a musical festival in 2015. Anticipating challenges for re-election in her current district, she opted for a more Republican-aligned one.

Another person confidently gestured a “V” signaling that he had experienced arrest twice. Meet Richard Holtorf, a Colorado State Representative with a 29-year military career, rising to the rank of colonel.

Two candidates not only raised hands but also exchanged Hi-Fives in celebration. One of them is Trent Leisy, a County Council member in Colorado. He has a previous conviction in connection to a “harassment incident involving a child in 2016”.

Actually, there are 10 GOP candidates in this race. The absent one is Justin Schreiber. He currently faces felony charges, including stalking and harassment. If present, he would also be among those who raised their hands.

For their honesty, maybe, the audience erupted in the loudest cheers of the night.

Whether it is worth being proud of past arrests is not my focus today. What I want to convey is that the title of the House of Representatives may sound noble and prestigious, but at the end of the day, these representatives are just regular people who, like anyone else, can have made mistakes.

According to the United States Constitution, in Article 1, Section 2, anyone can run for the House of Representatives if they meet the following three eligibility requirements:

First, the candidate must be at least 25 years old.

Second, the candidate must be a U.S. citizen for at least seven years.

Third, the candidate must be an inhabitant of the state they seek to represent.

This means that many people, including you watching this video, might meet the eligibility to run for Congress. Having a previous criminal record doesn't affect your eligibility. Remember, even though Donald Trump faced 91 felony charges, he's currently running for president and leading in his party.

This may seem like a small and amusing scene, but it signifies that everyone can get involved in politics, and this type of politics embodies true American Democracy. Don't underestimate your privilege to engage in politics, something not easily attained in some countries. On this land, while not everyone can run for office, anyone can participate in politics, express our perspectives through our votes, and have our voices heard.