Republican state Rep. Justin Hicks of Missouri, known for his "I identify as an American" stance, claims minority voters are rejecting Democrats' "false promises" and embracing Republican values.
In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, Republican state Rep. Justin Hicks of Missouri, who gained prominence last year for defiantly declaring he "identifies as an American" during a heated debate on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), expressed his belief that minority voters are awakening to the "false promises" of the Democratic Party.
Hicks, a candidate for Missouri's 3rd Congressional District, asserted that minority voters have increasingly recognized the advantages of "Republican values" such as limited government, lower taxes, and personal freedom.
"The Democrats have had a free pass with a lot of minority groups, but I think a lot of the minority groups are starting to realize that the Democrats have, pretty much, false promises that they're giving them," Hicks said.
His fight against racialized politics has continued in the Missouri House, where he is the only non-White Republican and has faced harassment from Democrats due to his race.
Last year, he received applause during a floor debate on a bill opposing state funds for DEI initiatives after refusing to specify his ethnicity. "I identify as an American," he declared.
The incident left a lasting impression on Hicks, who served in the U.S. Army for six years and deployed to the Middle East.
"It was a shocker. It took me back when that question was asked to me, because that's not the country I fought for," he said, referring to his military service.
"That's not the country that I fight every single day to ensure that we protect — one where we're identifying each other based on arbitrary lines such as the color of your skin, or how you look, instead of who you are as in your character," he added.
Hicks' military experience has shaped his political views, particularly his emphasis on building America's military and maintaining its global standing.
"We really are a beacon of hope for so many different countries out there, and we have to remember that. I think we fail to realize that, as Americans, a lot of times, we get so caught up in what's going on inside the country that we don't actually look outside and see how blessed we are," he said.
If elected, Hicks' top priority would be to advocate for a balanced budget to address inflationary pressures on Americans and avoid burdening future generations with debt.
Included in that is his 1-year-old daughter, Liberty, who he credits as the main reason he decided to run for Congress.
"The America that she's growing up in is one where we have a lot of selfish leaders here in Congress that care more about doing political theater than actually delivering results here for Americans … where our freedoms are in jeopardy a lot of times, and many aspects that make us uniquely American are in jeopardy," he said.
Hicks faces a crowded Republican primary field, including Bob Onder and Kurt Schaefer, but the winner is expected to prevail in the November general election due to the district's Republican-leaning electorate. The primary is scheduled for August 6th.
