Matt Shaheen
Republican | Texas
Candidate Profile*
Verified Conservative
*Additional information appears below for educational purposes; however, only data received prior to the candidate deadline was considered during Panel Evaluation.
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Matt Shaheen
Party
Republican
Election Year
2022
Election
General
Race
State Rep., Dist. 66
Incumbent
Yes
Links
EDUCATION
Randolph-Macon College, Ashland, VA, BA, 1987
SMU, Dallas, TX, MA, 2003
WORK & MILITARY
(Candidate did not provide)
AFFILIATIONS
Prestonwood Baptist Church, Deacon, Prestonwood Pregnancy Center
Board Member, Golden Corridor Republican Women, Associate Member
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Collin County Commissioner, 5
State Representative, 5
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
(Candidate did not provide)
Race
Previous Races
SCORECARDS
CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS
2020-21
100%
2021
100%
2021
91%, 91% (cum.)†
2019
87%
2021
85%
2021
83%
2021
80%
2019
68%, 75% (cum.)†
2020-21
|100%
2021
|100%
2021
|91%, 91% (cum.)†
2019
|87%
2021
|85%
2021
|83%
2019
|68%, 75% (cum.)†
LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS
2019
50%, 28% (cum.)†
2021
16%
2019
F
2019
0%
2019
0%
2019
|50%, 28% (cum.)†
2021
|16%
2019
|F
2019
|0%
2019
|0%
ENDORSEMENTS*
*These endorsements were received after the deadline and were not considered in the Panel Evaluations and are for additional educational purposes only.
CONSERVATIVE (7)
Young Conservatives of Texas
Texas Right to Life
*National Rifle Association (NRA) PVF
Texas Home School Coalition (THSC)
*Texas State Rifle Association (TSRA PAC)
OTHER (5)
Texas Alliance for Life PAC (TAL)
*Texas Farm Bureau AGFUND
*Texas Municipal Police Association
*Texas Association of Realtors/TREPAC
*Texas Health Care Association PAC
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (24)
Carrie Isaac (2022)
Ellen Troxclair (2022)
Frisco Conservative Coalition (2021)
Greg Abbott (2015)
Heritage Alliance (2008)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (67)
Accountability First (2014)
American Federation For Children (2020)
August Pfluger (2020)
Bryan Hughes (2020)
Candy Noble (2014)
OTHER INFORMATION
The candidate was the 13th most conservative State House member according to Rice University 2021 analysis.
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
I believe every little baby in the womb is a child of God and I have always fought for life and am very pleased about the reversal of Roe v. Wade. I support current Texas law that bans abortion except when the mother's life is at risk.
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Agree
I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Disagree
ECONOMY
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
In general, I will always fight for the lowest tax burden in Texas. The unjust Robin Hood mandate should be repealed. It is a blatant exploitation of taxpayers and has not fixed the failed school finance issue.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
State government is highly inefficient and I would support large reductions in the administrative portions of our state budget.
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Disagree
Education is a priority and I feel obligated to ensure that K-12 education is available to all children in Texas with the parents choosing the best for their child. College is a decision beyond K-12 and should not be a burden placed on all Texans through additional taxation.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
As an author of a Religious Freedom bill that was passed last session, there are no circumstances when the government can close a church. My legislation was signed into law by Governor Abbott and it prevents churches in Texas from ever being forced to close. The Declaration of Independence recognizes our God-given rights Freedom of Religion and it's the legislature's job to protect that freedom.
HEALTHCARE
What most closely matches your view on healthcare: A) Healthcare for all should be guaranteed and funded by the government with no private healthcare option. (includes "universal healthcare," "medicare for all," etc.) B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options. C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. D)Tax-payer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be de-funded.
Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but free market reforms must be made to reduce the administrative costs and the damage government run healthcare has done to our healthcare industry.
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
I will never support a mandate of any vaccine and I will always fight against this if someone else tries to mandate one. No one in our state has the statutory authority to do this.
NATIONAL SECURITY
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
“See Something, Say Something” legislation should be passed that allows citizens to report suspicious terroristic activity without the fear of being civilly liable. The neighbor of the San Bernardino terrorist had seen suspicious activity but were afraid to report it.
I support the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement to pressure Israel to withdraw from occupied territories, remove the separation barrier in the West Bank, allow full equality for Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel, and promote the rights of Palestinian refugees.
Strongly Disagree
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Strongly Agree
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
People who follow the legal immigration path to citizenship will always be welcome in the U.S.
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Strongly Agree
I support adding gender identity as a specially protected class in non-discrimination laws.
Strongly Disagree
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Strongly Disagree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I came to Christ as a young man, led by my mother. Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior and died for my sins and the sins of all humanity so that we can spend eternity in heaven.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Disagree
Since photo identification is required for many other purposes such as banking transactions, enrolling in public school, credit card usage, etc, it stands to reason that it’s necessary to protect election integrity by requiring photo identification to vote.
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
Ensuring no drive through voting practices or 24 hour voting are allowed as Texans already have equal access to polls.
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
No, although there are certainly individuals that hold racist views, America is not a racist country. Race is often used by liberal Democrat extremists to divide our nation and drive their base, which can create a security threat, such as the BLM/Antifa riots that cost our nation hundreds of lives and billions in damages.
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Strongly Disagree
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Which comes closest to your view? A) Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy. B) Stricter environmental laws and regulations are worth the cost.
Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy
I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.
Strongly Agree
ABOUT YOU
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
The purpose of government is to ensure justice and civil order, to provide for protection against crime, the defense of our nation against foreign threats and to secure the blessings of liberty.
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?
Very Conservative
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
https://www.tribtalk.org/2016/12/07/so-called-bathroom-legislation-wont-wreck-texas-economy/ https://www.theepochtimes.com/mkt_app/texas-board-of-education-considers-controversial-teaching-standards_4687046.html https://www.theepochtimes.com/mkt_app/texas-adopts-resolution-combating-communist-chinas-murder-in-the-form-of-forced-organ-harvesting_3850216.html
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized in either civil or criminal court for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
no.
What else would you like voters to know about you, including your legislative priorities?
I believe failed liberal Democrat open border policies have led to record drug deaths that could have been prevented, but the Biden administration doesn’t care and it’s up to the State of Texas to do all we can to help secure the border. I am working on legislation to fight liberal Democrat extremists who try to sexualize Texas children. I have successfully fought failed liberal Democrat Policies like Defunding the Police and releasing dangerous criminals into our neighborhoods to make our state safer.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Police officers should be personally immune from prosecution for conduct consistent with departmental policy (qualified immunity) while on duty.
Strongly Agree
I support redirecting funds from police departments to mental health and community programs.
Strongly Disagree
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
Our Second Amendment rights are granted by the Constitution and I fully support the right to bear arms.
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Disagree
I disagree. Gun manufacturers have no control over how their products are used. This type of legislation would open the legal doors for other types of lawsuits based on product use.
