At just 22 years old, Dillon Fillion is believed to be the youngest candidate ever to seek office in Scott County, Iowa, challenging incumbent Democratic state Rep. Daniel Gosa for Iowa’s 81st House District seat.
Fillion, who currently works as a Domino’s delivery driver while campaigning, described the experience as juggling “two full-time jobs,” balancing his shifts with an active presence on the campaign trail.
Before launching his political bid, Fillion had taken a gap year from Scott Community College, where he is pursuing a criminal justice degree, setting aside his studies to focus on the race.
His policy platform centers on eliminating property taxes entirely, boosting police funding, and giving parents greater influence over their children’s education, issues he believes resonate strongly with his Scott County district.
“I think people are very excited that a young person is running because they see a lot of these old people running for office, no offense to them, but people wanna see some fresh new faces and I think it’s time for my generation to step up,” Fillion said.
Fillion credits Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk with helping young men in his generation find direction and connect with conservative principles, an influence he sees reflected broadly among his peers.
“The men in my generation are really conservative. They admire conservative principles. I think Charlie Kirk really helped with the young men in my generation in regard to finding a purpose in life,” Fillion said.
He added that while Gen Z men are trending conservative, voter turnout among his generation remains a critical challenge that he hopes his candidacy can help address in November.
Fillion said his interest in politics was sparked in 2019, when he began following Democratic accusations against President Donald Trump, which he found “weird” and went down a “rabbit hole” researching what he described as corruption within the Democratic Party.
“I just couldn’t stand back and just watch all this stuff happen, and I decided to get involved,” he said, describing the moment as the catalyst for his shift from aspiring professional hockey player to political candidate.
His campaign slogan, “Keep Iowa Great!,” appears across signs and merchandise, reflecting a platform grounded in what his campaign website describes as Christian family values, a strong work ethic, and principled perseverance.
Among his most notable endorsements are Sen. Rick Scott of Florida and Iowa House Majority Leader Bobby Kaufmann, lending his grassroots campaign a degree of institutional Republican support.
On public safety, Fillion has pledged to introduce a constitutional amendment for the Back the Blue Act if elected, aimed at strengthening legal protections for law enforcement officers across the state.
“When I get into that legislature, I will be introducing a constitutional amendment for the Back the Blue Act to make sure our police are protected so they can do their job correctly,” Fillion said.
He has also made property tax relief a signature issue, with his campaign website stating that if full elimination is not “immediately achievable,” he will push to lower taxes as aggressively as possible.
“I wouldn’t be in this race if I didn’t think I could win it,” he said. “However, my Democrat opponent does not stand up for the things that this district cares about.”
Fillion said his broader goal is to demonstrate that younger Americans are engaged, motivated, and determined to shape the country’s future through the political process rather than from the sidelines.
“I just want our country to know that there are people in my generation that are doing everything they can to try and save this country,” he said.
