I've seen some of the world. I've lived, worked, or gone to school in Kentucky, Tennessee, the Carolinas, Virginia, New York, Italy, and Scotland, but I'm now home in Letcher County, in the house where my Mom grew up, and on land where her Mom’s family has lived since the mid 1800’s.

About Me | Mikel4Congress

My first real job was working at an A&P grocery store. I worked there for approximately three years, and the experience taught me responsibility, discipline, and the value of serving customers well.

I was a contract archaeologist, and worked at Fort Lee for around a year.

Kentucky's 5th Congressional District election, 2026 - Ballotpedia

Mikel Wein previously worked as a contract archaeologist at Fort Lee and at an A&P grocery store.

Mikel Wein - Ballotpedia

Mikel previously worked as a contract archaeologist at Fort Lee and at an A&P grocery store.

2026 Kentucky General Election

Skyrocketing costs for housing, food, childcare, and education, plus stagnant wages and rising inflation, are making life unaffordable. Across the country, 60% of people live paycheck to paycheck, and in eastern Kentucky, 25% live at or below the poverty line. People should not go hungry, be homeless, or not be able to raise a family. It's time to embrace Franklin Delano Roosevelt's Economic Bill of Rights, and guarantee, to everyone, a job sufficient to afford the life we deserve. Click below to learn more.

Home | Mikel4Congress

It is time we were honest about the need to approach workers in this country the same way, and establish legislation to protect them from government and corporate greed. Put differently, the American people need to recognize that a class war has already begun, and so far, we have refused to fight back. Eastern Kentucky has a strong history of fighting back, and we need to re-gain the tools that would help us reclaim our share of the wealth: a vibrant National Labor Relations Board, stronger laws that protect worker’s rights, and renewed ability to form unions.

Wealth | Mikel4Congress

We Deserve Action

Actions Needed Immediately

Repeal tax cuts for the wealthy in the BBB

Support pending legislation to redistribute wealth back to workers

Re-fund the NLRB and other offices that protect workers

Longer-Term Actions

Limit private equity companies from purchasing single family homes, expand HUD housing, and expand tax relief for home buyers and renters (tax credits for rent)

Support legislation to end student loan debt

Jobs and Pursuit of Happiness | Mikel4Congress

Longer-Term Actions

Oppose bailouts to tech and other large corporations

Support legislation to rein in bank interest rates

Support legislation tax capital gains as income

Support aggressive anti-monopoly legislation

Advocates for an Economic Bill of Rights that guarantees everyone a job sufficient to afford basic needs.

Advocates for stronger worker protections, a well-funded National Labor Relations Board, and expanded ability to form unions.

Proposes limiting private-equity purchases of single-family homes, expanding housing through the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and increasing renter and homebuyer tax relief.

Opposes bailouts for large corporations and supports limits on bank interest rates, taxing capital gains as income, and antitrust legislation.

- Advocates for an Economic Bill of Rights that guarantees everyone a job sufficient to afford basic needs.
- Advocates for stronger worker protections, a well-funded National Labor Relations Board, and expanded ability to form unions.
- Proposes limiting private-equity purchases of single-family homes, expanding housing through the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and increasing renter and homebuyer tax relief.
- Opposes bailouts for large corporations and supports limits on bank interest rates, taxing capital gains as income, and antitrust legislation.

Economy

Finally, cuts to Medicaid and telehealth will be devastating for behavioral and mental health, both of which have been neglected for too long. Though efforts have been made in recent years, we need to include physical and mental healthcare into any comprehensive healthcare program.

Healthcare | Mikel4Congress

Actions Needed Immediately

Repeal cuts to Medicaid and ACA tax exemptions

Pass Medicare for All

People shouldn't die, go without medicine, or go into debt because they can't afford healthcare. But, between 45,000 and 60,000 people die each year, and 500,000 face bankruptcy, because our medical system is broken. The only just fix, a national healthcare system, is supported by over 60% of voters. It’s time to demand legislators pass the Medicare for All Act of 2025 to guarantee healthcare for all and save our rural hospitals in eastern Kentucky.

To make a long point short, we need to restore funding for existing healthcare and more; we need a government run, universal, comprehensive healthcare system that is free at the point of service, paid for by U.S. tax dollars, and provided to everyone regardless of their background. The Medicare for All Act of 2025 has been proposed but is unlikely to advance in the current Congress. We need representatives and senators who would advocate and vote for this legislation.

Addiction: Past methods of addressing drug addiction have not worked. As was pointed out in a 2023 report, the ‘war on drugs’ actually made drugs more dangerous and sent too many people to jail. Newer public health solutions, such as better access to treatment and recovery services and programs that address the needs of affected communities, show promise, but have been severely cut back by the Trump administration. We need to reinstate these programs. I believe we also need to fund ‘community networks’ of professionals, agencies, and organizations who can identify specific needs and bring coordinated efforts to heal addiction within communities.

Futures | Mikel4Congress

Longer-Term Actions

Revive H.R.3755, the Women’s Health Protection Act of 2021, which prohibits federal restrictions on women's reproductive healthcare

Revive S.4973, the No Kings Act of 2024, to nullify the Supreme Court ruling that presidents are immune from criminal prosecution and reassert Congress's authority to determine applicability of U.S. criminal laws

Security | Mikel4Congress

Supports including physical and mental healthcare in comprehensive healthcare coverage and repealing cuts to Medicaid and Affordable Care Act tax exemptions.

Calls for passage of the Medicare for All Act of 2025 to establish universal healthcare and support rural hospitals.

Supports restoring addiction-treatment and recovery programs and funding community networks to coordinate addiction services.

Proposes reviving the Women's Health Protection Act of 2021, which prohibits federal restrictions on women's reproductive healthcare.

- Supports including physical and mental healthcare in comprehensive healthcare coverage and repealing cuts to Medicaid and Affordable Care Act tax exemptions.
- Calls for passage of the Medicare for All Act of 2025 to establish universal healthcare and support rural hospitals.
- Supports restoring addiction-treatment and recovery programs and funding community networks to coordinate addiction services.
- Proposes reviving the Women's Health Protection Act of 2021, which prohibits federal restrictions on women's reproductive healthcare.

Healthcare

Crime and Violence: Any approach to the addiction crisis must also tackle drug-related and general crime in our communities. As illustrated by fentanyl in 2023, reducing trafficking will require federal, state, and local coordination to security ports of entry and dismantle distribution networks within the U.S. Approaches such as Campaign Zero also advocate for legislation to provide funding, support, and training for local law enforcement – citizen partnerships, including mental health personnel, that would be able respond most effectively to situations. These approaches also free up law enforcement to respond to crime where needed to keep our communities safe. I believe adopting legislation to support Campaign Zero would help lower crime in our communities.

Supports legislation aligned with Campaign Zero to fund and train law-enforcement and community partnerships.

- Supports legislation aligned with Campaign Zero to fund and train law-enforcement and community partnerships.

Public Safety

We Deserve Action

Actions Needed Immediately

Rollback ICE funding for 2026

Support legislation to unmask ICE and increase federal officer accountability

Support legislation to strengthen the War Powers Act of 1973 and limit presidential Article II, Section 2 power to initiate conflict

It's time to end wars, military actions, foreign entanglements, and "homeland security" services that do nothing to better Americans or keep us safe. I think it's time to de-fund our own military actions against other countries, including Iran; halt military support for other countries, such as Israel, that commit genocide or other crimes against humanity; and de-fund services, such as ICE, that are unlawfully harming people in our own country and making us afraid.

Supports rolling back Immigration and Customs Enforcement funding and legislation to identify federal officers and increase their accountability.

Said he would defund U.S. military action against Iran, halt military support for countries he says commit genocide, and defund Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Supports strengthening the War Powers Act of 1973 to limit presidential authority to initiate conflict.

- Supports rolling back Immigration and Customs Enforcement funding and legislation to identify federal officers and increase their accountability.
- Said he would defund U.S. military action against Iran, halt military support for countries he says commit genocide, and defund Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
- Supports strengthening the War Powers Act of 1973 to limit presidential authority to initiate conflict.

Foreign Policy and Immigration

Beyond restoring funding for social services, we need a new approach - one that lets us chart our own future. I propose a Resilient Community Corps that would provide support for communities to heal themselves, and make federal funding for projects that impact the environment contingent on a Community Development Agreement. Click below to learn more about this new "old" way to protect our communities and environment into the future.

Resilient Communities: In eastern Kentucky and across the nation, cuts to FEMA have hurt communities. We need to strengthen FEMA and expand federal insurance programs to include natural disasters beyond flooding. Beyond these, we need new legislation to help communities be able to – literally - weather coming storms; in short, we need a Resilient Community Corps (RCC) initiative.

There was a slide along the old strip mine road across from our house. It's no secret that logging, mining, and clearing has left our land vulnerable. It's time to heal our land and water. We need to continue funding the Abandoned Mine Land Program and revise the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) to include specific enforceable reclamation timeframes so that reclamation does not continue to lag and reclaimed land can be used faster for housing, recreation, or other purposes.

We need to continue funding the Abandoned Mine Land Program and revise the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) to include specific enforceable reclamation timeframes so that reclamation does not continue to lag and reclaimed land can be used faster for housing, recreation, or other purposes. We also need to strengthen incentives, including RCC funding and tax breaks, for conserving and restoring lands, including wetlands, stream buffers, and upland forests.

Proposes a Resilient Community Corps and ties federal environmental-project funding to Community Development Agreements.

Calls for strengthening the Federal Emergency Management Agency and expanding federal disaster insurance beyond flooding.

Supports continued Abandoned Mine Land Program funding and enforceable reclamation timelines under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act.

Supports tax breaks and Resilient Community Corps funding to conserve and restore wetlands, stream buffers, and upland forests.

- Proposes a Resilient Community Corps and ties federal environmental-project funding to Community Development Agreements.
- Calls for strengthening the Federal Emergency Management Agency and expanding federal disaster insurance beyond flooding.
- Supports continued Abandoned Mine Land Program funding and enforceable reclamation timelines under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act.
- Supports tax breaks and Resilient Community Corps funding to conserve and restore wetlands, stream buffers, and upland forests.

Energy & the Environment

Legislation to regulate dynamic pricing and limit personal data gathering by rewards and pricing algorithms

Legislation to expand voter access and for publicly-funded elections

Legislation to move federal judges to non-voting advisory roles after 25 yr service or age 75

Integrity | Mikel4Congress

Legislation to move federal judges to non-voting advisory roles after 25 yr service or age 75

Amendment for term and age limits for federal judges, congress, president, and vice-president

Proposes reviving the No Kings Act of 2024 to reverse presidential immunity from criminal prosecution and reaffirm Congress's authority over the applicability of federal criminal law.

Supports legislation expanding voter access, publicly funded elections, and constitutional term and age limits for federal elected officials and judges.

- Proposes reviving the No Kings Act of 2024 to reverse presidential immunity from criminal prosecution and reaffirm Congress's authority over the applicability of federal criminal law.
- Supports legislation expanding voter access, publicly funded elections, and constitutional term and age limits for federal elected officials and judges.

Voting & Elections

We need to continue funding the Abandoned Mine Land Program and revise the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) to include specific enforceable reclamation timeframes so that reclamation does not continue to lag and reclaimed land can be used faster for housing, recreation, or other purposes. We also need to strengthen incentives, including RCC funding and tax breaks, for conserving and restoring lands, including wetlands, stream buffers, and upland forests. It's also time we funded education, such as new Appalachian Environmental Studies, that would spur jobs and small businesses here at home to help heal our land.

Further, it’s time to support education to benefit local communities by increasing funding for broadband internet, expanding federal education grants for ‘return to community’ service, and ending student loan debt.

We Deserve Action

Actions Needed Immediately

Re-fund the Department of Education and existing federal education programs

Pass pending legislation to control tariffs, increase affordable housing, and provide tuition-free public college

Nationalize graduate, professional, and trade school ‘education for home’ grants that fund education in exchange for working 'back home' or in an underserved community for five years

Ban political oversight or interference with public academic institutions.

Narrowing who can get an education, along with censoring the material taught in the classroom and cuts to federal programs that fund academic research, will stifle innovation and degrade the workforce for a long time. It’s time to treat education as a human right at the federal level, as it is in every state's constitution. It's time to pass legislation that guarantees free tuition to public schools from early childhood through graduate, trade, or professional school.

Supports funding for Appalachian Environmental Studies education to support local jobs, small businesses, and land restoration.

Supports increased broadband funding, education grants tied to community service, and ending student-loan debt.

Calls for restoring Department of Education funding and barring political interference with public academic institutions.

Calls for federal legislation guaranteeing tuition-free public education from early childhood through graduate school, trade school, and professional school.

- Supports funding for Appalachian Environmental Studies education to support local jobs, small businesses, and land restoration.
- Supports increased broadband funding, education grants tied to community service, and ending student-loan debt.
- Calls for restoring Department of Education funding and barring political interference with public academic institutions.
- Calls for federal legislation guaranteeing tuition-free public education from early childhood through graduate school, trade school, and professional school.

Education

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Mikel Wein

- Calls for passage of the Medicare for All Act of 2025 to establish universal healthcare and support rural hospitals.
- Supports restoring addiction-treatment and recovery programs and funding community networks to coordinate addiction services.
- Proposes reviving the Women's Health Protection Act of 2021, which prohibits federal restrictions on women's reproductive healthcare.

- Supports strengthening the War Powers Act of 1973 to limit presidential authority to initiate conflict.

- Calls for strengthening the Federal Emergency Management Agency and expanding federal disaster insurance beyond flooding.
- Supports continued Abandoned Mine Land Program funding and enforceable reclamation timelines under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act.
- Supports tax breaks and Resilient Community Corps funding to conserve and restore wetlands, stream buffers, and upland forests.

- Supports legislation expanding voter access, publicly funded elections, and constitutional term and age limits for federal elected officials and judges.

- Calls for federal legislation guaranteeing tuition-free public education from early childhood through graduate school, trade school, and professional school.

Mauricio Mendez

Buket Urgen

Gerardo Serrano

Hal Rogers

Ned Pillersdorf

- Your US Representative represents the interests of your district in the U.S. House of Representatives, the lower house of Congress. Kentucky currently has 6 U.S. Representatives.
- US Representatives can author, sponsor, debate, and vote on bills that become federal law.
- Representatives may serve on congressional committees. Committees focus on certain areas of policy, such as transportation, education, or labor. They may also run for higher positions within their party, such as the Speaker of the House or Majority/Minority Leader.
- Representatives are elected to two-year terms and there are no term limits. U.S. Representatives are paid a salary of $174,000/year.
-  Representatives must be at least 25 years old, a U.S. citizen for seven years, and an inhabitant of the state from which he or she is elected. 

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