A Journey
of Resilience
Jason Neenos' path was never easy, but it was defined by perseverance against the odds. As the son of a black mother and white father, Jason experienced first hand the prejudices many mixed-race families face. He also experienced the challenges that come with divorced parents suffering from substance abuse. Rather than letting those challenges define his future, Jason defied expectations through sheer determination, working to realize his dream of becoming a classroom teacher.
While working full-time to support himself, Jason attended community college before transferring to Arizona State University. He married his wife, Bryn, between earning bachelor's and master's degrees in education - an incredible achievement as the first person in his family to attain a bachelor’s college degree.
Passionate about shaping young minds, Jason expected to have a long, fulfilling career as a K-12 classroom teacher. However, the economic realities of supporting his own growing family on an educator's salary eventually forced him to make the difficult decision to leave the classroom. As a father of three kids, Jason understands the tough decisions parents have to make for the betterment of their children.
Jason's personal journey encountering and overcoming obstacles is a shared experience for so many hard-working Granite Staters. Like them, he understands the struggles of making ends meet, access to quality affordable education, battling chronic health issues, and the ever-increasing costs that strain family budgets.
Whether it was being denied assistance like WIC despite earnings just above the limit, or seeing the price of essential medication and healthcare skyrocket, Jason has walked in the shoes of families forced to make tough choices due to economic pressures.
It's these first-hand experiences that drive Jason's commitment to representing the interests and values of Grafton County residents. As a former social studies teacher, he has always had a strong interest in civic engagement and giving a voice to those without one.
Jason brings valuable insights from his working-class upbringing and the challenges of raising his own three children with his wife on their small hobby farm in Plymouth. He is running for the Democratic nomination because he understands that many in the 2nd District still face the same economic anxieties about their family's future that he has had to overcome.
If elected, Jason Neenos would be a representative who doesn't just talk about kitchen table issues, but one who has lived them. He will fight for policies that ease the squeeze on working families, increase access to affordable healthcare, invest in quality education, and create more opportunities for people to get ahead.
The ideals of service, hard work, and resilience in the face of adversity are what carried Jason this far. Now he hopes to bring that same determination to being a voice for all of Grafton County.