About
About
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I'm David Clayton, and I want you to be heard.
I never planned to run for office. I wasn't groomed by a rich family; I didn't go to an Ivy League school. I'm an everyday American who works to survive.
I want to represent NC District 5 in the US House because 99% of Americans don't have a voice. The 1% is silencing it.
In 2017, I left my job as a digital marketer, consultant, and project manager. I was making a great living, but I didn't feel alive. When I saw homeless veterans begging on the sidewalk, I felt selfish. So, I sold everything except my camping gear, bought two Husky waterproof storage bins and survival gear, packed up my car, and set off with my trusty Chihuahua, Boomer.
My mission: to live a life of substance by helping our nation's veterans who have given so much for our freedoms and ways of life.
What began as a journey towards a life of substance brought me to the most beautiful state with the best people in the nation. A place I chose—and choose—to call home: North Carolina.
Each heart on the map below represents a veteran I helped.
"Task & Purpose" Heard Of My Efforts
Two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Thomas Ricks asked me to share my experience of crossing the nation to help homeless veterans in "Task & Purpose". Read my article here.
Becoming the man my mother and father raised led me to North Carolina. As their son, I will protect North Carolina and our nation until my last breath.
My mother and father never married but each wanted me to carry their last name: 'Clayton' for my mother, 'Ready' for my father. My legal name is David Clayton, however, in various stages of my life I have used both last names separately or hyphenated. You'll see those different versions in various articles and videos covering my life. I've always felt truly lucky to honor their influences in my life this way.
You can see the documentary of my cross-country journey on :
Born
February 27, 1979
Raised
Thousand Oaks, California
Married
Single
Children
No kids, just my dog!
Party
Unaffiliated
Faith
I am a Christian who, like Jesus, welcomes all, where they are and as they are.
Notable Mentions:
Notable Mentions:
David Clayton
David Clayton
the Golden Microphone
"Stories of Service"
Let's Make A Difference.
Giving Strength Makes Us Strong
In the middle of my journey driving the nation, Hurricane Irma struck Florida. I had just left Key West and was in New Jersey continuing my work seeking out and helping unhoused veterans.
I knew Irma would devastate Florida vets, so I drove straight back to Florida and volunteered with the Red Cross.
For six weeks, I worked night and day at a hurricane victim's shelter in Miami-Dade County. As exhausted as I was from being on the road, giving people comfort and help gave me the strength to keep going.
When we help others, we help ourselves.
Give hope; hold onto hope.
WWJD
Let's bring the true definition of "representative" back.