From Napa to the Nation’s Capital
When I first learned I would be attending the State of the Union — I was honestly in disbelief and incredibly excited.
When Congressman Mike Thompson asked if I would be his guest, after moment of pause I said yes. I didn’t even check the calendar my wife and I share. I immediately called her and told her I had been invited.
Without hesitation, she supported me and shared in the excitement. Even knowing that it meant she would be home alone with our three young kids for a few days, she said, “Of course, go do it.” I will always be grateful for her support and encouragement.
Before I left, my 8-year-old daughter Jasmine made sure to share her own message. She drew a picture of a person with an ax cutting down a tree, with a big X across it. Her message was clear: don’t cut down trees or drill for oil — it’s bad for the environment.
Later she watched part of the State of the Union and heard the President talk about drilling for oil. Let’s just say… she was not happy.
I was honored to have the opportunity to attend the State of the Union — truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
The day before the speech, I was scheduled for a tour of the Capitol.
I made my way to the Cannon House Office Building, where Congressman Mike Thompson’s office is located. Walking down the hallways, I couldn’t help but notice the names of other members of Congress posted outside their doors. Many offices displayed signs, symbols, and personal touches that reflected their values and the communities they represent. Some featured rainbow flags in support of the LGBTQ community. Others showed strong support for Israel. I saw signage connected to conservative figures like the late Charlie Kirk, and in another office, a photo of President Trump standing moments after the assassination attempt. It quickly became clear that these hallways represented many different parts of the country — and how far apart perspectives can be, even when members of Congress are just a few doors down from one another.
When I arrived, Congressman Mike Thompson’s staff welcomed me warmly. They were professional, friendly, and immediately made me feel at home.
As we began walking through the Capitol, I quickly realized how much happens behind the scenes. The infrastructure alone is remarkable — miles of underground tunnels connecting buildings, corridors where it would be easy to lose your way without guidance, and artwork and statues honoring influential figures and movements from across the country.
One of the most memorable moments of the tour came when Congressman Thompson invited me to step onto the House floor. It was an incredible honor to stand in the very room where so many defining moments in our nation’s history have taken place. From that vantage point, I could see the voting devices, the layout of the seats, and the chamber from an angle that cameras simply cannot capture. It’s a perspective that can only truly be understood when you are there in person.
As we continued the tour, I noticed how our Nation’s history is represented through statues honoring individuals who helped shape our nation’s story. One sculpture in particular stood out — an unfinished statue representing the women’s rights movement. The piece shows a group of women emerging from a block of stone, with portions intentionally left incomplete. Congressman Thompson explained that the unfinished design symbolizes the ongoing work of achieving full equality and rights for women in the United States.
Standing there, I couldn’t help but reflect on how powerful that symbolism is. Even within the halls of our nation’s Capital, there is recognition that our country’s story — and the effort to build a more equal society — is still being written.
Being there also made me realize something about myself.
I might be a bit of a political nerd — something I’ve been reluctant to admit. But after several campaigns for public office, I’ve come to accept that I’m genuinely drawn to public service, especially the work of representing and advocating for our communities.
Public service can sometimes feel frustrating and slow moving. But standing inside the Capitol, surrounded by centuries of history and the stories of those who fought for progress before us, reminded me why so many people dedicate their lives to this work.
When I entered the gallery above the House floor the night of the speech, the moment really hit me.
The first thing that surprised me was the size of the chamber. Watching on television, the room appears enormous. In reality, it’s much more intimate — almost cozy. The camera angles make it look far larger than it actually feels when you’re sitting there.
Guests from all over the country were finding their seats, introducing themselves, and sharing why they had been invited. I was seated in the corner of the gallery — the top right if you’re facing the President.
From my seat I had a clear view of many of the invited guests as they entered.
To my left, not too far away, sat members of the First Family. Sitting nearby were other notable guests, including Erika Kirk, Scott Ruskan of the United States Coast Guard, who received the Legion of Merit; Medal of Honor recipient and Korean War veteran Ryce Williams; and members of the U.S. men’s hockey team, who for a moment were standing not far from my right.
Interestingly, the women’s hockey team — who have achieved tremendous success internationally — were not in attendance that evening.
There were also several other guests present who were not mentioned during the broadcast introductions. Among them were survivors connected to the Epstein case, as well as members of the Artemis astronaut crew preparing for future missions beyond Earth.
Watching all these individuals enter the chamber — people representing service, sacrifice, achievement, and resilience — reminded me how many stories are present in that room beyond what viewers see on television.
But there were also moments that felt jarring.
At one point, members of the Republican Party began chanting “JD, JD, JD,” in reference to Vice President J.D. Vance. From the gallery, it felt strangely out of place — more like a chant you might hear at a college fraternity party than inside the House chamber.
As the President’s cabinet began filing into the House chamber, the mood in the room shifted noticeably. From my seat high in the gallery, I could watch them move down the aisle one by one — polished, composed, and purposeful. What stood out was not just their presence, but their focus. Handshakes, nods, and brief exchanges were directed almost entirely toward members on one side of the chamber, while the other side remained largely unacknowledged. It created a quiet but unmistakable visual line in the room. From above, the chamber felt less like a single governing body and more like two separate teams sharing the same space. The choreography of the moment — who was greeted, who was not, who received a smile or a wave — told its own story about the state of our politics before a single word of the speech had even begun.
Watching it unfold, I couldn’t help but think about the contrast between political theater inside the chamber and the very real struggles many Americans are facing outside of it. At a time when many families across the country are hurting, that moment felt especially striking.
A Moment That Stayed With Me
The most memorable moment of the evening happened before the speech even began.
A woman dressed in white, wearing a beautiful butterfly lapel, sat a few seats over from me. I introduced myself and complimented her butterfly. I asked what brought her to the State of the Union.
She looked me in the eyes and said, “I am an Epstein survivor.”
My heart dropped.
I responded the best way I knew how in that moment:
“Thank you for speaking out and sharing your story. You have a nation that believes you and that’s behind you.”
I hope my words were appropriate.
Throughout the speech — during the applause, the celebrations, the standing and cheering — I couldn’t help but glance over at her. She remained quiet and seated the entire time.
It made me both deeply sad and angry. To see someone who had endured so much sitting there, largely unacknowledged, receiving no justice. It was difficult to watch.
Watching the speech itself from the gallery was surreal.
You’re sitting above the chamber seeing people you normally only see on television, podcasts, or C-SPAN. Yet at the same time there’s a certain distance — they don’t know who you are. In that moment, you’re simply a spectator observing history unfold.
From the gallery, the divisions in the room were impossible to miss.
I’ll be honest: I am not a fan of this administration, to say the least. Going into the evening, I expected to hear positions I strongly disagree with — and many times I did. What stood out most to me, though, was the absence of any message about working together. There was no olive branch extended across the aisle. Aren’t we stronger together?
When President Trump spoke, members of the Republican party cheered loudly and repeatedly raised their hands in support. From my vantage point, it felt almost like a congregation responding to a sermon. I don’t state that to exaggerate — that was genuinely my reaction watching it unfold from above.
At other moments, the responses were different. Both Republicans and Democrats stood to recognize individuals who had been honored that evening: recipients of national medals, a young girl recovering from a terrible accident, and calls to outlaw insider trading. They also stood for the members of the U.S. men’s hockey team after their gold-medal victory.
Then came a moment that felt particularly striking. The President asked those in the room to stand if they believed U.S. citizens should be prioritized over “illegal” immigrants. Republicans stood. Democrats did not.
From the gallery, the moment felt less like a genuine question and more like a setup — a moment designed for television.
What viewers at home likely didn’t see was the context and tension in the room. Immigration enforcement is a complicated and painful issue, and there have been instances where U.S. citizens have died during immigration operations. In that context, the framing of the question felt ironic and, to me, more like a political stunt than a serious policy discussion. The Republican side of the chamber embraced the moment enthusiastically.
I understand that many people reading this may not agree with this part of my take. That’s okay. I’m simply sharing what I witnessed and my honest reaction to it.
From where I sat, the division in the room only seemed to grow larger as the evening went on — and at times it seemed like the President enjoyed the divide.
Witnessing it firsthand was a powerful reminder of just how polarized our national politics have become.
It would go on to become the longest State of the Union address in history. I remained standing for the entire two hours — partly because my view from the gallery would be blocked if I sat, but also because I didn’t want to miss a single moment of what felt like a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Standing there, taking it all in, I was determined to witness the full weight of the evening as it unfolded in real time.
As a councilmember, my role is clear: represent all residents of the City of Napa, regardless of political affiliation.
Whether someone votes red, blue, or somewhere in between, we can all agree on certain things —for our communities to be stronger, safer, healthy, and full of opportunity,
This trip to the Capital came with a main purpose.
I was asked to advocate for our community and highlight the affordability challenges facing families and small businesses — housing costs, childcare availability, energy prices, and economic opportunity.
These are the kinds of issues people in Napa talk about every day.
I arrived a few days early to avoid any travel surprises. I’ve had some rough luck with flights recently — delays, missing luggage, even missing a flight once — but thankfully this trip went smoothly.
There was a lot of anticipation leading up to the speech and an expectation of strong partisan moments, which certainly played out.
Still, witnessing the process up close — seeing the people, the traditions, and the reality behind what we usually only see on television — was an experience I won’t forget.
No matter what happens in Washington, my responsibility as a councilmember, remains the same: advocating for the people of Napa and working on the everyday issues that affect our community.
Sitting in the gallery that evening, one thing was unmistakably clear — our national House is deeply divided. But that doesn’t mean our communities need to follow that same path.
If there was one takeaway from the experience, it’s this: how we treat each other in our communities’ matters. We spend too much time focusing on our differences and not enough time breaking bread together, listening to one another, and learning about each other’s stories. Those real human conversations are where understanding begins.
It starts locally — in our neighborhoods, our schools, our places of worship, and around our dinner tables. When communities come together with respect and curiosity instead of division, we set the example for what the rest of the country can become. Our nation’s progress doesn’t begin in Washington. It begins in our communities.
I am very appreciative that Congressman Mike Thompson represents our district. His experience, knowledge, and dedication were evident throughout the visit and reflected in the respect and acknowledgment he received from his staff and colleagues on both sides of the aisle. I also had the opportunity to witness firsthand his senior role on the Ways and Means Committee — one of the most powerful committees in Congress and notably the only committee specifically referenced in the U.S. Constitution. Members who serve on Ways and Means generally do not serve on other committees, underscoring its importance and the weight of the responsibility.
Watching Congressman Thompson navigate that environment gave me a deeper appreciation for the demands of federal service. He makes the journey from Northern California to Washington, D.C., on a weekly basis — from one end of the country to the other — and has done so for many years. Making that trip once was challenging enough for me. Doing it consistently over the course of a career is something that deserves recognition and respect.
Experiences like this remind me that public service at every level requires commitment, sacrifice, and perspective. And while the debates and divisions in Washington may dominate the headlines, the real work of strengthening our country continues every day in communities like ours.
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