
Full Name: Scott Thomas Parkinson
Nick Names:
Office Sought: US Senate
Party Affiliation: Republican
Campaign Website:
www.scottparkinson.com
Campaign POC:
Phone Number: 703-881-1854
Campaign Email:
Scott@ScottParkinson.com
Structured Interview Request Sent: 26 January, 4 February, 13 February 2024.
Structured Interview Response and Date: Yes. 21 Mar 2024
Vetting Panel Selected: Pending
Structured Interview Completed: Pending
Biography: Scott Parkinson is a Christian, husband, father, son, brother, uncle, nephew, cousin, friend, and conservative Virginian. He has lived in Arlington with his wife and growing family since 2009.
Scott has 18 years experience taking on the swamp to advance the conservative movement, working for three United States Senators before serving as the Executive Director of the Republican Study Committee. In 2018, Scott was Representative Ron DeSantis’ Chief of Staff while DeSantis successfully won the Governor race in Florida. After serving as DeSantis’ deputy executive director of his Gubernatorial transition team in Tallahassee, Scott joined the Club for Growth as Vice President of Government Affairs, where he has advocated for economic freedom, opportunity, and liberty for the past 5 years.
Scott resides in Arlington, Virginia with his wife, Cortlynn, and their four children – Natalynn, Paislynn, Raelynn, and Prescott. The Parkinson Family are members at Cherrydale Baptist in Arlington.
Why you? For most of my career, I was content being the “guy behind the guy” but when COVID hit in March 2020, I lost confidence in many of our elected leaders at the federal level because they did not stand up and fight back against COVID tyranny. From the economic shutdown, school and church closures, infringements on our God-given constitutional rights, and rush to expand Big Government over the people, it became clear to me that we needed new conservative leadership in Washington. My opponent, Tim Kaine, voted for all of it and he has been in office 30 years from City Council to Mayor to LG to Governor to Senator. He also served as Chairman at the DNC and was close to being a heartbeat away from the presidency when he ran as Hillary Clinton’s running mate in 2016. But Kaine does not represent the Commonwealth of Virginia. He operates like a political oligarch that has lost all connection to the People. I believe I am the only conservative that can actually defeat Tim Kaine. I have the policy and political experience to go head-to-head against Kaine. And I have the experience to stand up and fight for the next generation’s rights, prosperity, and security. The open border policies supported by Kaine and Biden are intentional to change the fabric of America and we must fight to enact border security policies that end the illegal alien invasion. We also need leadership in Washington to stand for parents and the family. As a father of four children, I will not yield their future to the corrupt political system that the Uniparty represents. Instead, I will stand alongside the People. The Democrats began attacking me when I announced my campaign on April 3, 2023. They know I’m a threat to Tim Kaine’s grip on power and I am doing everything in my power to ensure this campaign is successful in firing Kaine.
What are your priorities? I am capable of stepping into the U.S. Senate on Day 1 and being an effective Senator for Virginia. My priorities after I’m sworn in on January 3, 2025, will be centered around the most pressing issues facing America. As Senator, I will stand firmly in defense of all Americans constitutional rights. Moreover, there are big pressing issues that are expiring so they will be front and center in the policy fights of Washington. The debt limit suspension will end in early 2025, and we know there’s a need for extending the Trump Tax Cuts because if we do nothing the economy will suffer from the largest tax increase in American history, which will only exacerbate the cost-of-living crisis in Virginia where the average household pays $12,230 more in increased costs annually under Biden compared to under President Trump. I will also focus on working with President Trump to confirm executive branch to ensure he has a functioning Cabinet and judicial nominations – especially if there is a vacancy on the Supreme Court. Additionally, we must use the power of the purse to stop the illegal alien invasion and restore public safety in America. Finally, I will be a Senator that opposes so-called forever wars and instead focuses on an America First foreign policy that protects America from those that wish to do us harm by targeting federal spending on domestic security.
Endorsements:
First of all, it is important to tell Virginians I have endorsed President Trump.
I am endorsed by 5 current U.S. Senators Ted Cruz (TX), Mike Lee (UT), Tommy Tuberville (AL), Pete Ricketts (NE), Mike Braun (IN), and former U.S. Senator Jim DeMint (SC).
In the House of Representatives, I’m endorsed by Virginia’s U.S. Rep. and current House Freedom Caucus Chairman Bob Good (VA-05). I am also endorsed by Representatives Byron Donalds, Anna Luna, Jim Banks, Eli Crane, Lauren Boebert, Ralph Norman, Mark Green, Dan Bishop, Cory Mills, Chip Roy, Andy Biggs, Mike Carey, Kevin Hern, Tracey Mann, Rich McCormick, Mary Miller, Matt Rosendale, Gary Palmer, Max Miller, Josh Brecheen, Eric Burlison, Scott Perry, August Pfluger, Warren Davidson, and Jason Smith.
Two members of Virginia’s House of Delegates have endorsed me – AC Cordoza and Ellen Campbell.
Virginia’s RNC Committeeman Mortan Blackwell has endorsed me.
I’m also endorsed by Corey Lewandowski, Dave Bossie, Andrew Pollack, Terry Schilling, and Gary Marx.
Finally, I’ll be releasing more endorsements from Virginians in April 2024 – all of my endorsements can be viewed at https://scottparkinson.com/endorsements/
Education:
I graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 2005; Political Science.
Relevant Employment History:
Jan. 2019-present – Club for Growth, Vice President of Government Affairs
November 2022 to January 2023 – Deputy Executive Director – Ron DeSantis Gubernatorial Transition
Sept. 2022 to Nov. 2022 – Administrator of the 6th Congressional District of Florida; appointed position by the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives.
May 2022 to Sept. 2022 – Chief of Staff, Rep. Ron DeSantis (FL-06)
Feb. 2016 to March 2018 – Executive Director, Republican Study Committee
April 2012 to Feb. 2016 – Economic Policy Advisor and Deputy Legislative Director, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (FL)
Jan. 2011 to April 2012 – Legislative Assistant, Economic Policy Advisor to U.S. Senator Ron Johnson (WI)
Jan. 2009 to Jan 2011 – Self-employed political consultant
May 2007- December 2008 – Research Analyst, National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC)
May 2006 to May 2007 – Staff Assistant, U.S. Senator John Ensign (NV)
Nov. 2005 to May 2006 – Special Assistant to the President, The Heritage Foundation
Military Experience / Branch / Years of Service / Rank / Type of Discharge: I have never served in the U.S. military, but I am grateful to all who have courageously served our grateful nation in uniform.
Past Offices Held and Tenure: I have never served in political office. But I believe in many cases, those that climb the ladder of elected office – like Tim Kaine has – are usually the most corrupt and incapable of saving America. Instead, it’s leaders from the bleachers, not the bench, that often do the best job of breaking the political status quo – like President Trump and Gov. Youngkin.
Community Service: My community service is limited to being an active father in my children’s lives, including in sports and our church. I also help mentor people but I am not affiliated with any specific mentorship program.
Leadership Experience: In addition to my professional background, I serve on the Conservative Action Project, Executive Committee – 2019 to present.
Personal Strengths: Parenting in a Christ-centered household, self-sufficiency, public policy, political strategy, communications, honesty, and integrity.
What is the most important thing Virginians need to know about you? I am completely dedicated to the mission of defeating Tim Kaine, I am the only conservative that can win, and I will never let you down!
How would your friends and family describe you? My family and friends would describe me as loving, honest, loyal, dedicated, experienced, creative, and intelligent. My children would also say I’m fun, athletic, and a good cook.
What are your thoughts on the Constitution as the Law of the Land? The role of our federal government is that of a Constitutionally limited Republic – with an explicit separation of powers to protect & defend our unalienable God-given rights within the powers vested in the Constitution to the Legislative, Executive, & Judicial branch.
What are your thoughts on religious liberty? I will firmly defend the First Amendment Rights of All-Americans, including the right to exercise our religious freedom.
What are your thoughts on the preservation of our history? I oppose a re-writing of American History. I oppose removing controversial monuments and instead believe America should erect more monuments dedicated to our story and place in history so that the People know our history and can learn from mistakes made along the way..
What are your thought on government transparency? I believe too much information is classified and kept secret from most Americans. This creates mistrust from the People. I also believe Congress should adjudicate legislation in a transparent manner, rather than the terrible process that continues to dominate where legislation is far too often passed in the middle of the night without giving the American People the ability to read it and petition government or peaceably assemble in support or opposition to the legislation or nomination.
What are your thoughts on national defense? I believe in a strong national defense that protects American sovereignty and security. I do not support so-called “forever wars” and believe the U.S. military and intelligence agencies must focus on America First policies that protect our country while preserving our constitutional rights.
What are your thoughts on the free enterprise system? I oppose Socialism. Tim Kaine is as close to a Socialist Senator as Virginia has ever had – he votes with Bernie Sanders 94% of the time. I support free markets and free enterprise, with an incredibly low regulatory regime and low taxation allowing for economic opportunity, liberty, and freedom.
What are your thoughts on the protection of the unborn? I am a pro-life father of four amazing and loved children, created in the image of God.
What are your thoughts on the role the family plays in America? The Family unit is incredibly important when it comes to economic opportunity and upward mobility. There’s a study known as the “Success Sequence” which outlines the opportunities Americans have to become upwardly mobile based on the sequence of education, work, marriage, and having children. Public policy should not penalize marriage in tax or antipoverty welfare benefit programs.
What are your thoughts on equal rights, equal justice and equal opportunity, as opposed to equal outcomes? I strongly support equal rights, justice, and opportunity for all Americans. We cannot allow a two-tiered justice system in America where the rule of law does not apply to the elites and well-connected.
What are your thoughts on the 2nd Amendment? The right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. I am a gun owner and will defend Americans’ Second Amendment rights.
Additional sources of information on this candidate: