A lottery winner in North Carolina said that he would use his winnings to run for the U.S. Congress. This is an unusual plan for people who win lotteries.
Usually, when people become lottery winners, they tend to spend their money to start a business, treat themselves, or buy new properties for their beloved families.
A teller flicks through a bundle of US dollar bills at an exchange office in Ankara on July 20, 2023. Turkey's central bank hiked its main interest rate for the second month in a row, but analysts said the unwinding of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's unconventional policy was too timid to tame inflation.
But, 46-year-old Dr. Josh McConkey is different from them since he wants to use his earnings to get a seat in the U.S. Congress and serve Americans.
North Carolina: Lottery Winner Now Wants To Run for US Congress!
On Thursday, Feb. 8, Josh McConkey hit the $1.5 million jackpot after matching all five balls in the Cash 5. But, he had to split the grand prize since another individual had the jackpot-winning ticket, which was purchased at the Piggly Wiggly on Tatum Drive in New Bern.
But, McConkey still took home $541,670, which was originally $757,577 but was reduced after the required state and federal tax withholdings.
"I have numbers that I use with my children's birthdays and my anniversary and those types of things," shared Josh McConkey.
"This is quite a day. I am still really in shock. It's pretty wild," he added.
But, instead of spending the money on his personal wants, the lottery winner said that he would use his winnings to fund his U.S. Congress campaign.
"It is definitely needed. It is going to help us and put us in a position to help North Carolina," said the lottery winner via Yahoo Finance.
If you are intrigued by Josh McConkey's lottery-winning story, here are other things you need to know about him.
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Who is Josh McConkey?
A joint session of Congress meets to count the Electoral College vote from the 2008 presidential election in the House Chamber in the U.S. Capitol on January 8, 2009, in Washington, DC. Congress met in a joint session to tally the Electoral College votes.
Dr. Josh McConkey is a U.S. Air Force Reserve colonel who wants to run for the U.S. Congress. The lottery winner said that he wants to serve the United States using his military and medical expertise/experience.
Via his official website, Josh McConkey provided his priorities if ever he gets a seat in the U.S. Congress. These include the following:
Economy
Josh said that if he becomes a Congressman, he will support fiscal discipline, sound monetary policies, and tax reform.
National Security
Since he is a U.S. Air Force Reserve Colonel, he will ensure that the national security of the country will be his top priority.
Opioid Crisis
Josh said that he will focus on the opioid crisis as well, especially since opioids and other similar drugs are pouring over the southern border of the U.S.
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