Winning isn't always the point

Andrew Dunn talks with Jack Codiga about why he’s running as a Republican in the bluest congressional seat in North Carolina, what it means to run a principles-first campaign, and why Codiga is centering his message on monetary policy and housing affordability in Charlotte.About the guestJack Codiga is a Charlotte-area resident (coming up on five years) who works in commercial real estate and mortgage banking, and is running for Congress in NC-12.What we coverWhy it’s still valuable for Republicans to compete in deep-blue districts like Charlotte’s NC-12“Winning” vs. keeping your convictions intact — and why Codiga rejects veiling beliefs to chase outcomesPolitics as the “marketplace of ideas,” and a campaign built around principles (including a Christian moral frame)Why monetary policy is (in Codiga's view) misunderstood — and how it connects to housing affordabilityThe “Buckley rule” and how candidates think about fit vs. persuasionSubsidies vs. root causes (health care example)A quick discussion of gold: investment vs. “money,” and the role of a gold standard conversationChapters / Timestamps00:00 — Why winning isn’t the ultimate goal (Codiga's premise)00:38 — Intro: why cover a non-competitive race; NC-12 is the “safest Democratic seat”02:04 — Guest background (Charlotte, real estate / mortgage banking)02:47 — Why run anyway? “Marketplace of ideas,” and focusing on systemic issues like money05:03 — Principles-first politics and faith as the moral foundation06:35 — The “Buckley rule” and what districts can handle07:01 — “Veiling” beliefs and losing the plot07:13 — Why monetary policy is central to Codiga's platform08:35 — Unconstrained money creation → distortions → housing unaffordability09:21 — Health care, “make it free,” and the subsidy reflex12:38 — Gold standard tradeoffs; gold as “money”13:49 — Wrap-up + primary ballot note This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.longleafpol.com/subscribe