Post by Steven Horowitz (Aichi-ken, Kariya-shi, 1992-94)
It’s not every day that a JET alum runs for Congress. The last time it happened (at least that I’m aware of) was when JET alum Rob Cornilles ran for Congress in Oregon in 2012. And before that when David Boling ran for Congress in Arkansas in 2010.
So it’s exciting to share that JET alum Taylor Wettach, a 2013-14 JET originally from Muscatine, Iowa, has launched his campaign for Congress in Iowa.
Here’s a link to his campaign website: https://taylorwettachforcongress.com/
Here’s an article from LawFuel.com about Taylor leaving his law firm to run for office: https://www.lawfuel.com/simpson-thacher-alumni-taylo-wettach/
And below is a cute video he posted that shares his “elevator pitch.”
Other notable JET forays into politics include JETAA Northern California’s Ellen Kamei, who is the current mayor of Mountain View, CA, Paige Cognetti who is the current mayor of Scranton, PA, JETAA Hawaii’s Nadine Nishioka who ran for State Representative in 2004, and of course Brooklyn’s own Anthony Bianchi who has served as a City Councilman in Aichi-ken, Inuyama-shi for many years and made headlines as the first North American to hold elected office in Japan.
Update: 08.13.25: A few more JET alums in politics!
JETAA USA Country Rep Vivian Chen mentioned that she saw Virginia Second District Representative (and JET alum) Jen Kiggans speak about her formative time on JET during a Virginia reception held at the Japanese Ambassador’s Residence. And that JET alum and Nashville District 17 Council Member Terry Vo has generously volunteered for a JETAADC career panel in the past in addition to previously serving as an officer for Music City JETAA.
USJETAA Executive Director Jessyca Livingston shared, “My own mayor in Littleton, Colorado, is JET alum Kyle Schlachter! He was in Kyoto along with his wife.”
Ganbatte Taylor-san!
If I missed any other JET alums in politics of note, feel free to email me at stevenwaseda [at] jetwit dot com!
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