Brian McGinnis is a Marine Corps veteran, firefighter, and Green Party candidate for U.S. Senate. Born around 1982 in Quincy, Illinois, he serves as a firefighter in Raleigh, North Carolina and moved to the state after his military service. McGinnis served as a sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps (2000-2004), including deployment to Iraq as a Light Armored Vehicle Crewman during Operation Iraqi Freedom (February-June 2003). He is married to Hamadee Ali, a Palestinian woman, with whom he has four children. McGinnis has become notably active in anti-war activism, pro-Palestine advocacy, and left-wing political organizing. He is running on a platform opposing corporate influence, supporting working-class people, and advocating for peace.
McGinnis grew up in Quincy, Illinois as the son of Vietnam Veteran Dr. Alex McGinnis and Mary Lou McGinnis. He was class president at Quincy Senior High School and entered U.S. Marine Corps boot camp two days after graduating in 2000. After honorable discharge in 2004, he earned an Associate degree from John Wood Community College (2006) and worked as a youth counselor and YMCA membership coordinator. He later moved to North Carolina and works as a firefighter in Raleigh. Married to Hamadee Ali (Palestinian), with four children. Active in faith-based activism and international solidarity movements.