Mark Heggestad

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Mark Heggestad is a pragmatic Democrat running to represent Florida’s 5th District to uplift our hardworking families, guarantee justice for all, and defend our democratic freedoms. He believes in building bridges—not burning them. His values are grounded in fairness, opportunity, and a deep respect for his neighbors. He supports policies that empower working families, small businesses, and civic institutions to thrive.

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Learn where Mark stands on healthcare, public education, voting rights, climate, affordability, and more. Explore his full positions and how he plans to serve Northeast Florida and the future of our communities.

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Select a question below to expand and read Mark’s answer.

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Protecting democracy — because every voice deserves to be heard and every vote to count.

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1.) What are the main points you want voters to remember about you and your candidacy?"I’m a pragmatic Democrat who believes in building bridges—not burning them. My values are grounded in fairness, opportunity, and a deep respect for our neighbors. I support policies that empower working families, small businesses, and civic institutions to thrive. My campaign is rooted in three commitments: Love for our neighbors—because strong communities begin with mutual respect. Lowering the temperature—because we need more listening and less shouting. Protecting democracy—because every voice deserves to be heard and every vote to count. I’ve spent decades making tough calls as a football official and leading complex projects with integrity and accountability. I know how to navigate pressure, resolve conflict, and earn trust—skills that matter in Congress. Florida's 5th Congressional District deserves a representative who shows up, listens deeply, and leads with empathy. I’m running to serve—not to score points, but to deliver results. Together, we can restore faith in public service and build a future rooted in stewardship, fairness, and opportunity for all."

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Florida's 5th Congressional District deserves a representative who shows up, listens deeply, and leads with empathy. Mark is running to serve—not to score points, but to deliver results. Together, he believes we can restore faith in public service and build a future rooted in stewardship, fairness, and opportunity for all.

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"I’m a pragmatic Democrat who believes in building bridges—not burning them. My values are grounded in fairness, opportunity, and a deep respect for our neighbors. I support policies that empower working families, small businesses, and civic institutions to thrive.

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SCROLL THROUGH TO EXPLORE THE ISSUES MARK IS FIGHTING FOR.

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Protecting democracy—because every voice deserves to be heard and every vote to count.

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Florida's 5th Congressional District deserves a representative who shows up, listens deeply, and leads with empathy. I’m running to serve—not to score points, but to deliver results. Together, we can restore faith in public service and build a future rooted in stewardship, fairness, and opportunity for all."

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2.) Who are you? Tell us about yourself in 200 words or less."I’m a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) with a career built on solving complex problems and delivering results. I live on Jacksonville’s Southside with my wife (Darlene) and step daughter (Brianna), and I’m an active member of our local church. My grown son (Matthew) lives in Minnesota. I grew up in a small town where hard work and integrity were daily expectations—values that still guide me. Over the years, I’ve led initiatives across healthcare, government, finance, and other industries—bringing teams together, managing risk, and improving systems that serve real people. My academic background includes a double major in Management Information Systems and Business Management, which has equipped me with the analytical and organizational skills to solve complex problems and drive meaningful change. Whether it’s genetic research or coordinating technology for public agencies, I’ve seen how good governance and smart planning can change lives. Outside of work, I’ve officiated football for over four decades, making fair calls under pressure and earning trust on the field. That same commitment to fairness and accountability drives my approach to public service. I’m running for Congress to bring practical leadership to CD-5. I believe in listening deeply, acting with empathy, and building systems that work for everyone. My goal is to protect democracy, lower the temperature, and create opportunities for all our neighbors."

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I’m running for Congress to bring practical leadership to CD-5. I believe in listening deeply, acting with empathy, and building systems that work for everyone. My goal is to protect democracy, lower the temperature, and create opportunities for all our neighbors."

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3.) Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer."Absolutely. You can’t succeed in life—or in public service—without relationships. Over the years, I’ve learned that even when someone seems “on the other side,” they’re still accountable to constituents, just like me. Respecting that shared responsibility is the foundation for collaboration. As a Project Manager, I’ve worked with diverse teams where each collaborator had competing priorities. Success came not from control, but from solid relationships and coordination, finding common ground and building trust. Legislation is no different. You need allies to move ideas forward, even if you don’t agree on everything. As a football official, I’ve seen how relationships shape outcomes. Coaches don’t want favoritism, they want competence. They’re accountable to athletic directors, players, fans and parents. When they know you’re fair, they can focus on their jobs. That same principle applies in Congress: fairness earns respect, and respect enables progress. I believe in pragmatism over partisanship. Building relationships across the aisle isn’t just beneficial, it’s essential. It’s how we lower the temperature, protect democracy, and deliver results for the people we serve."

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I believe in pragmatism over partisanship. Building relationships across the aisle isn’t just beneficial, it’s essential. It’s how we lower the temperature, protect democracy, and deliver results for the people we serve."

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4.) Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?"Yes, I believe prior experience in government or politics can be beneficial—but it’s not the only path to effective leadership. What matters most is the ability to understand, shape, and implement legislation that aligns with the Constitution, holds up legally, and improves the lives of everyday Americans. As a Project Manager, I’ve spent my career navigating complex systems, aligning stakeholders, and delivering results. That same skill set applies to legislating: reading and writing bills, understanding their downstream impact, and ensuring they’re rolled out effectively. It’s not just about ideas, it’s about execution. Serving in the House of Representatives is a sacred responsibility. Adapting to its norms, rules, and traditions will be one of the most meaningful projects of my life. I approach it with humility, curiosity, and a deep commitment to service. While experience in politics can help, it’s no substitute for integrity, competence, and willingness to learn. I bring decades of leadership in healthcare, government, and community engagement—and I’m ready to build coalitions, protect democracy, and deliver for CD-5."

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"Yes, I believe prior experience in government or politics can be beneficial—but it’s not the only path to effective leadership. What matters most is the ability to understand, shape, and implement legislation that aligns with the Constitution, holds up legally, and improves the lives of everyday Americans.

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Serving in the House of Representatives is a sacred responsibility. Adapting to its norms, rules, and traditions will be one of the most meaningful projects of my life. I approach it with humility, curiosity, and a deep commitment to service.

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While experience in politics can help, it’s no substitute for integrity, competence, and willingness to learn. I bring decades of leadership in healthcare, government, and community engagement—and I’m ready to build coalitions, protect democracy, and deliver for CD-5."

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5.) What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?"I’m passionate about public policy that strengthens families, protects democracy, and creates opportunities for all. Healthcare is a top priority—Jacksonville employs over 25,000 healthcare workers and welcomes patients from more than 90 countries. We must expand coverage, reduce costs, and ensure quality care for every American. Affordability matters. I support lowering rent, food costs, and eliminating tariffs that inflate monthly living expenses. Education is foundational—I’ll fight to invest in schools, support educators, and provide high-quality learning for every student. Economic development is key to a thriving CD-5. I’ll champion innovation, support small businesses, and promote job creation. I also believe in environmental sustainability—advocating for policies that reduce pollution, conserve resources, and expand renewable energy. I am committed to protecting our environment by opposing offshore drilling and safeguarding our waterways, ensuring that Florida’s natural resources are preserved for future generations. Immigration reform is personal and patriotic. I celebrate the contributions of immigrants and support pathways for legal work and prosperity. I’m committed to preventing gun violence while respecting the constitutional right to bear arms. Government accountability is essential. I’ll work to ensure transparency, build public trust, and promote effective governance. Protecting voting rights and supporting women and families are central to my vision for a fair, inclusive, and forward-looking society. I also believe in adding a little grit—knowing when to negotiate and when it’s worth fighting, especially for democracy, the rule of law, and fundamental rights."

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"I’m passionate about public policy that strengthens families, protects democracy, and creates opportunities for all. Healthcare is a top priority—Jacksonville employs over 25,000 healthcare workers and welcomes patients from more than 90 countries. We must expand coverage, reduce costs, and ensure quality care for every American.

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Affordability matters. I support lowering rent, food costs, and eliminating tariffs that inflate monthly living expenses. Education is foundational—I’ll fight to invest in schools, support educators, and provide high-quality learning for every student.

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Economic development is key to a thriving CD-5. I’ll champion innovation, support small businesses, and promote job creation. I also believe in environmental sustainability—advocating for policies that reduce pollution, conserve resources, and expand renewable energy. I am committed to protecting our environment by opposing offshore drilling and safeguarding our waterways, ensuring that Florida’s natural resources are preserved for future generations.

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Immigration reform is personal and patriotic. I celebrate the contributions of immigrants and support pathways for legal work and prosperity. I’m committed to preventing gun violence while respecting the constitutional right to bear arms.

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Government accountability is essential. I’ll work to ensure transparency, build public trust, and promote effective governance. Protecting voting rights and supporting women and families are central to my vision for a fair, inclusive, and forward-looking society. I also believe in adding a little grit—knowing when to negotiate and when it’s worth fighting, especially for democracy, the rule of law, and fundamental rights."

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I support comprehensive immigration reform that creates a fair, orderly, and humane system. Our current process is outdated, unpredictable, and fails both families and employers. We need clear rules, modernized processing, and legal pathways that reflect today’s economic and humanitarian realities. I believe that if you work hard, follow the rules, and contribute to your community, our system should make a pathway available to you. That includes earned pathways to citizenship, updated visa programs that meet workforce needs, and efficient, well‑resourced asylum processing so cases are decided quickly and fairly. Reform should also strengthen border security in smart, effective ways — using technology, staffing, and modern infrastructure — while ensuring that enforcement respects due process and human dignity. A functioning immigration system makes our country safer, our economy stronger, and our communities more stable. That’s why I support reforms that are practical, humane, and ro

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Yes. Climate change is a significant financial threat to the U.S. economy, and Florida is one of the clearest examples of why. Rising temperatures, stronger storms, and higher insurance costs already strain families and businesses. But one of the most serious long‑term risks is sea‑level rise. If sea levels continue to rise in Florida, saltwater can push into our aquifers — including the Floridan Aquifer, which supplies drinking water to millions of people. Once saltwater enters those aquifers, the water becomes undrinkable without expensive treatment. In the worst‑case scenario, communities could be forced to import drinking water, which would be devastating to Florida’s economy and to household budgets. Climate change also threatens infrastructure, agriculture, tourism, and military installations. Addressing it isn’t just an environmental issue—it’s an economic necessity. Investing in resilience, clean energy, and modern infrastructure protects both our environment and economy.

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My first priority is expanding access to affordable, stable healthcare by modernizing how we insure Americans. I support decoupling insurance from employment so people keep their coverage when they change jobs. Instead of employer‑based plans, every American would buy individual coverage through a regulated, competitive insurance market—similar to the Swiss model. Employers would redirect current benefit spending into wages or premium support, creating portability, stability, and true choice. My second priority is rebalancing our government by restoring Congress’s constitutional role in lawmaking and oversight. Too much authority has shifted to the executive branch and federal agencies, creating instability and policy swings that hurt families and businesses. Strengthening Congress improves accountability, transparency, and long‑term governance.

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To me, freedom of speech means the government cannot punish or silence people for their viewpoints. The First Amendment protects our ability to question government, debate public issues, and express ideas without fear of censorship. It safeguards speech we agree with and speech we don’t, because once government starts deciding which voices are acceptable, everyone’s rights are at risk. I am concerned that the current administration appears to pressure or discourage certain viewpoints, including those expressed by well‑known comedians and writers. Any administration limiting expression chills public debate and weakens democratic accountability. Freedom of speech does not guarantee freedom from criticism, but it does guarantee protection from government retaliation. Defending this right is essential to a healthy constitutional system.

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Under the Constitution, Congress has the primary authority to oversee federal agencies. Congress creates the agencies, defines their powers, funds their operations, and is responsible for ensuring they follow the laws it passes. Oversight is a core Article I duty and an essential check on executive power. The President manages the executive branch, but that authority does not replace or diminish Congress’s oversight role. No administration should pressure or threaten members of Congress — including with primary challenges or political retaliation — to weaken or avoid oversight. When that happens, it undermines the separation of powers and the accountability our system depends on. Strong, independent congressional oversight is essential to a balanced government and to ensuring federal agencies remain accountable to the people.

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If documentary proof of U.S. citizenship becomes required to register to vote, we must ensure no eligible citizen is disenfranchised because they cannot afford or easily access documents like certified birth or marriage certificates. This burden falls especially on women who changed their names, seniors, low‑income voters, and people born in rural or segregated hospitals where records may be incomplete. If the government requires a national ID or citizenship document, it must also provide a free, accessible way for every citizen to obtain it. No one should have to pay to exercise a constitutional right. I support federal funding to help citizens obtain missing documents, mobile units for rural areas, and a no‑cost national identity credential if such a requirement is imposed. Voting must remain free, fair, and accessible to all eligible citizens.

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The federal government has an important but limited role in education. At the pre‑school and K‑12 levels, it should focus on equity, safety, and ensuring every child—no matter their ZIP code—has access to strong public schools. Towns and cities are proud of their schools, and federal funding helps them function at a high level with safe facilities, qualified teachers, and great learning environments. At the higher‑education level, the federal role is to make college and technical training more affordable by expanding Pell Grants, supporting community colleges, and modernizing financial aid. Across all levels, the federal government should be a partner: setting fair standards, protecting students’ rights, and providing resources while respecting state and local control.