Roth was born and raised in Richland, Indiana, a small farming community east of Evansville. He joined his father in their grain farming operation after high school and later graduated from the University of Southern Indiana with a bachelor’s degree in social science teaching, according to a press release. In 2005, after his father’s retirement, Roth left farming and moved to Jefferson County, Missouri and working directly with farmers as a seed advisor. Roth also worked for Estes Express Lines as a line haul driver, retiring at the end of 2022.
Roth has had a lifelong interest in politics and government and, now that he is retired, is running for Congress. In a press release he stated that like many Americans, he is tired of the political climate in Washington, particularly the constant bickering and finger pointing while nothing gets done to help the average person trying to survive.
“I’m just really, really interested in politics in general, world affairs, what have you, but I’d sit here and just grumble reading the news. And my wife said, why don’t you run? You’re retired now...She’s right. Instead of grumbling, I’ll see if I can do something about it,” Roth said in an interview.
Roth’s statement describes him as “a rural American with ideas to help working Americans,” and says he is entering the political fray to, among other things, address wealth inequality. This includes poverty, low wages, a regressive tax system, declining union membership, as well as the “broken” health care system.
“I think I can relate to people in the district. As you know, it’s the poorest district in the state of Missouri. We have so many people on government assistance and so many people without health care. Our rural hospitals are closing. We have so many issues. But I think that my work background, my life experiences — single dad and farming and all that — I can relate to the people that live here,” Roth said.
Roth is pro-choice and pro-Second Amendment, and he supports humane immigration policy, campaign finance reform, equal rights for minorities including the LGBTQ+ community, and care for veterans. He described resolving the opioid crisis and creating more effective drug policies as near and dear to his heart, since his son died from a fentanyl overdose.
“That’s a story you don’t want to have to share with anybody, but it’s part of what I’ve experienced, and I know many other people in this district have experienced that as well,” he said.
Roth and his wife Sandy live in Hillsboro, Missouri. He has two sons, one deceased. He enjoys traveling, reading, working out and flying, and he has held a pilot’s license since 1990.