I’m Nic Zateslo. Thank you for taking a moment to learn more about this campaign and who I am. I hope to earn your trust, your support, and your vote. I’m running for Congress to deliver the leadership, integrity, and common-sense ideas our communities deserve.

I grew up in Tallahassee, with deep family roots stretching from here to Panama City. I have friends and family throughout the farming and fishing towns that make our district so special. I’m a Rickards High IB graduate, an Eagle Scout, and a proud product of North Florida’s public schools and tight-knit neighborhoods.

I’ve seen firsthand how hard life gets when leadership fails. I watched friends, neighbors, and family struggle to rebuild after the BP oil spill, Hurricane Michael, and through the rising costs that are squeezing all of our families today.

My freshman year of high school was marked by 9/11. I graduated from the University of South Florida during the 2008 financial crash. My first son was born just three months before the COVID-19 pandemic, and my second son arrived a month before the 2024 election. These moments shaped me, and they are why I believe we need practical, common-sense solutions, not more political games. I have seen firsthand what bad policies can do, and the decisions made by the people we elect have shaped my life in dramatic ways. Who we elect isn’t about red versus blue, it’s about who we trust to speak for us and have our backs in Washington.

For nearly 20 years, I’ve worked at the crossroads of data and technology, helping everyday people make real change in their communities. I’ve worked with Democrats, Republicans, Independents, and nonprofits across the political spectrum. I know how to work with people I disagree with, and I know how to stand my ground when something crosses the line.

I have spent most of my career building technology, and recently, diving deep into AI to understand the power and the growing risks this new era of technology brings. We need a Representative who understands the internet, algorithms, artificial intelligence, and how to shape policy that brings people along, not automates them into poverty.

I had no plans to run for office, and I am not a traditional candidate. But people in our community and across the country asked me to step up and meet the moment we are in. After conversations with my family and a lot of soul searching and prayer, my family and I decided to launch this campaign and we are in it to win. This is my first time running for office, but no means my first time in politics. I know what it takes to build a successful campaign, and I know we can take back our power and win this seat.

We are already seeing a level of enthusiasm, hope, and passion I never imagined possible. Our campaign is growing every single day because people know how much is at stake. People from all over the political spectrum are joining together ready to do something different, genuine, and real.

I’m running because we cannot keep electing leaders who cheer on and blindly support the chaos, corruption, and extreme politics in North Florida or Washington, DC we all deserve better. My kids, and every family here, no matter their politics, deserve a future built on common sense, accountability, and opportunity for all.

It’s time to turn the page.

Let’s get to work.