Simone Collins, 36, believes in repopulating the Earth and embryo testing.
Audubon resident Simone Collins emerges as a multifaceted figure blending staunch pronatalism – the encouragement and zealous ethos of an increased birth rate and embryo testing – with a bold political ambition.
At 36 years old, Southern California transplant Collins, a Republican, gears up to challenge Democratic State Rep. Joe Webster, 66, for Montgomery County’s 150th District seat in November as a write-in candidate, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer. The 150th District comprises Upper Providence, Lower Providence, Collegeville, Trappe and a portion of West Norriton.
Per the report, she has few donations, but did donate $10,000 to herself.
Her campaign is marked by a fervent belief in pronatalism, which she defines not just as advocating for increased birth rates, but as a broader movement to support families in a society she views as burdened by bureaucratic chokeholds.
She told the Inquirer pronatalism is about creating a future of “human flourishing” and staving off demographic collapse.
Collins, she told the newspaper, wants to have between seven and 12 children, but she needs to use IVF due to a former eating disorder.
Per the report, she believes the government has its foot on the neck of parents, thus making it cumbersome to have a family in the Commonwealth.
Collins, a prominent presence on YouTube with her husband Malcolm with a substantial following of almost 16,000 subscribers on their “Based Camp” channel, balances her political aspirations with motherhood, often juggling interviews while attending to her infant daughter, Industry Americus (Indy), her fourth child.
She also has young sons Octavian and Titan.
Her decision to run is deeply intertwined with her belief that progressive policies have adversely affected communities, a sentiment she illustrates by criticizing what she sees as misplaced priorities in her native California's Bay Area, such as efforts to rename schools.
“You don’t have to be partisan to be anti-woke,” she told The Inquirer. “I see ‘woke’ as bureaucratic bloat, and ossification.”
Married to Malcolm, who shares her political philosophy, her fashion in eyeglasses, and whose late grandfather was Republican Texas U.S. Rep. James Collins, Collins attributes her candidacy partly to his familial influence and their shared vision.
According to the report, Collins and her husband are interchangeable – Collins signs emails with her husband’s name, and vice versa, based upon their perception of who will be more receptive to the receiver of the email.
“We use whatever face of the two of us is going to be more palatable to other people, but we’re the same person, really,” she told The Inquirer. “We work as a team. So the fact that I’m running is just that my face and my name are there, but everything that we do, we do together.”
Despite both being actively involved in their various projects, including the Pragmatist Foundation and Pronatalist.org, Collins has taken the forefront in their political endeavors, believing a woman may be more electable in their district.
When not making YouTube videos, the couple runs travel agency Travelmax, which has pulled in $70 million a year with operations on five continents, per the article.
Her platform resonates with traditional Republican values of school choice and reducing governmental oversight on family decisions. She advocates for integrating her parenting philosophy into policy-making, advocating for less stringent regulations on car seats and supporting the integration of infants into workplaces rather than mandating parental leave.
These stances align with her broader goal of redefining societal norms to accommodate larger families. There is even a scene in an article where Malcolm slaps his son’s face
Collins’s entry into politics hasn’t been without controversy, particularly regarding her views on transgender rights and her skepticism toward current educational models.
She opposes policies mandating specific accommodations for transgender students and advocates for redirecting public education funding through school choice vouchers, which she believes will empower parents to make educational decisions aligned with their values.
In Montgomery County’s politically diverse 150th District, where Democrats hold a slight edge at 43% to Republicans’ 38%, Collins faces an uphill battle against Webster, a seasoned politician with an Air Force and Fortune 500 background.
Despite the challenges, Collins remains optimistic, citing her transparency and commitment to change as differentiating factors from incumbent politicians whom she accuses of being out of touch with everyday concerns.
Collins’s candidacy symbolizes a pushback against perceived governmental overreach into family affairs, a sentiment that resonates with many in her district grappling with contentious issues such as mask mandates and curriculum controversies.
Her blend of social media influence and grassroots campaigning underscores her ambition to reshape local politics, appealing to constituents disillusioned with conventional political practices.
As November approaches, Collins remains steadfast in her pursuit, convinced that her unconventional approach and advocacy for family rights will find fertile ground among voters looking for a fresh perspective.
Her candidacy not only challenges the status quo but also exemplifies a broader trend where grassroots activism intersects with traditional political landscapes, promising an intriguing race in Montgomery County's political arena, per the report.
