Meet the 22-year-old candidate eyeing history in key swing state as Gen Z embraces conservatism: 'Step up'
Meet the 22-year-old candidate eyeing history in key swing state as Gen Z embraces conservatism: 'Step up'
From delivering pizzas to running for an Iowa House seat, 22-year-old Dillon Fillion hopes to make history in his swing district and inspire Gen Z to embrace conservatism, which he says he's already seeing on the ground.
Fillion, believed to be the youngest candidate ever to seek office in Scott County, spoke to Fox News Digital about his ambitions to cut property taxes, boost police funding, give parents more say in their childrens education and draw Gen Z to the polls.
"I think people are very excited that a young person is running because they see a lot of these old people running for office, no offense to them, but people wanna see some fresh new faces and I think it's time for my generation to step up," Fillion said.
Before launching his bid for the Iowa House, Fillion decided to take a gap year from Scott Community College, where he is pursuing a criminal justice degree. He currently works as a Dominos delivery driver while hitting the campaign trail, which he described as juggling "two full-time jobs."
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"Basically, I do a full-time job as well as campaigning," he said.
But campaigning wasnt always Fillions vision. A lifelong hockey fan, he said his initial dream was to play professionally before stepping into politics.
Fillion said he became interested in politics in 2019 after seeing Democrats accuse President Donald Trump of colluding with Russia, saying he found it "weird" they were "calling our president a lot of weird, untrue things." From there, he said he went down a "rabbit hole" researching what he described as corruption within the Democratic Party, which he found "baffling and shocking."
"I just couldn't stand back and just watch all this stuff happen, and I decided to get involved," he said.
"Keep Iowa Great!" is the slogan Fillion has plastered across campaign signs and merchandise as he works to win over Iowa voters. One of three siblings, Fillion had an upbringing "grounded in Christian family values, a strong work ethic, and the perseverance to stand by his principles no matter the challenge," according to his campaign website.
Fillion credited Charlie Kirk with helping young men like him "find a purpose" and turn to conservative principles.
"The men in my generation are really conservative. They admire conservative principles. I think Charlie Kirk really helped with the young men in my generation in regard to finding a purpose in life. And I think that's really helped a lot of men in my generation," Fillion said. "I do think my generation is going in the right direction in regard to conservatism. It's just, I think my generation needs to turn out more in our elections."
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Fillion will challenge incumbent Democratic state Rep. Daniel Gosa for a seat representing Iowa's 81st House District. Filli


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