Brandon Carmack has wanted to run for office since his childhood.
“My bedroom was decorated like the Oval Office,” Carmack ’10 said.
Now, the former political economy major is running for Minnesota House of Representatives in District 64B.
Carmack is running against the incumbent — Michael Paymar — who has held the office since 1996. Paymar has won the past two elections with about 70 percent of the vote.
“I looked at the current situation and it couldn’t get much worse,” Carmack said.
The Highland Park resident decided to run at the beginning of January after hearing evangelical pastor John Piper speak about Christians being involved in politics. Piper inspired Carmack to pursue his dreams.
“I called Sen. David Hann [the father of John Hann ’11]. He suggested I put together a campaign and get the experience of both organizing a campaign and articulating positions,” Carmack said.
Before graduating from Hillsdale College and moving to Minnesota with his wife, Jessica, Carmack said his time at Hillsdale heavily influenced his understanding of politics and future goals. He was involved in many areas on campus and began describing himself as a “classical liberal,” said his friend, senior Brad Deitzen.
“Politics was always his thing,” he said.
Deitzen said that Carmack had a great reputation on campus.
“He wasn’t a jerk and definitely had charisma,” he said.
One conversation with college President Larry Arnn about Carmack’s dream of presidency in particular shaped his understanding of the responsibility of politicians. The men discussed Aristotle’s argument that politics is the highest good mankind can pursue.
“The highest responsibility is being a statesman, not a politician,” Carmack said.
In his campaign, he hopes to restore the idea of statesmanship to political dialogue. Statesmen, he said, understand the importance of legislation but also the importance of higher things.
In District 64B, Carmack is attempting to connect with young people. One facet of that approach is to reach out to local College Republicans.
“I’m representing disgruntled college students,” he said.
One of the incumbent’s main goals is to increase taxes on alcohol, Carmack said. So he also wants to establish relationships with restauranters and bar-owners whose livelihoods hinge on the sale of alcohol.
Carmack’s own campaign is built on the three issues he believes are the most pressing in District 64B: the right to work, education policy, and lowering property tax rates. He hopes to communicate his positions to constituents through “trendy and thought-provoking” billboards and monthly town hall meetings.
Currently, he is beginning the first of three stages of campaigning by building support, researching, fundraising, and making phone calls.
“What we need more than anything are volunteers,” he said. “Right now, I’m doing all of this. I’m getting to the point where I need to divide and conquer.”
Deitzen said Carmack has shown a statesman’s character and ability in his personal life. When one of Carmack’s friend’s lost his father, he jumped in to try to help.
“Brandon did a fundraiser to help provide money for the family. They raised several thousand dollars,” Deitzen said. “He coordinated it all.”
Deitzen said he has no doubt that these qualities could spell positive changes for Carmack’s district.
“Brandon knows what he’s talking about,” he said. “He has set ideas and I don’t think he will compromise.”
