Trent Franks
Republican | Arizona
Candidate Profile
Verified Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Trent Franks
Party
Republican
Election Year
2024
Election
Republican Primary
Race
U.S. Rep., Dist. 8
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Ottawa University
Center for Constitutional studies
WORK & MILITARY
(Candidate did not provide)
AFFILIATIONS
North Phoenix Baptist Church, Heartline Ministries
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Member United States Congress, 15
Member Arizona House of Representatives
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
United States Congress
Arizona Legislature
Race
SCORECARDS
CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS
2013
100%
2017-18
100%
2015-16
100%
2012
100%
2013-14
100%
2017
100%
2017-2018
100%
2017-18
100%
2017-18
A
2017
96%, 96% (cum.)â€
2016
94%, 95% (cum.)â€
2017-18
90%, 93% (cum.)â€
2018
92% (cum.)â€
2015
90%
2015-16
80%
2021
73% (cum.)â€
2012
71%
2013
|100%
2017-18
|100%
2015-16
|100%
2012
|100%
2013-14
|100%
2017
|100%
2017-2018
|100%
2017-18
|100%
2017-18
|A
2017
|96%, 96% (cum.)â€
2016
|94%, 95% (cum.)â€
2017-18
|90%, 93% (cum.)â€
2018
|92% (cum.)â€
2015
|90%
2015-16
|80%
2021
|73% (cum.)â€
LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS
2019
20%
2017
0%, 8% (cum.)â€
2015-16
5%
2017
14%, 5% (cum.)â€
2016
5%
2012
3%
2017
0%, 0% (cum.)â€
2015-16
0%
2017-18
0%
2016
0%
2017
0%
2019
|20%
2017
|0%, 8% (cum.)â€
2015-16
|5%
2017
|14%, 5% (cum.)â€
2016
|5%
2012
|3%
2017
|0%, 0% (cum.)â€
2015-16
|0%
2017-18
|0%
2016
|0%
2017
|0%
ENDORSEMENTS
CONSERVATIVE (1)
Arizona Republican Assembly
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (1)
Various
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (53)
Angela Stanton-King (2020)
Mike Beehler (2020)
Tina Marie Ramirez (2019)
Debbie Lesko (2018)
National Horizon (2018)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (48)
Mike Beehler (2024)
National Rifle Association (2017)
Paul Ryan (2017)
Prosperity PAC (2017)
Defending America's Values Everywhere (2016)
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (0)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (2)
Harvest PAC (2017)
Sheet Metal Workers International Association (2017)
OTHER INFORMATION
Key Votes from Vote Smart.
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Agree
I was privileged to be the Co-Chairman of the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus with Chris Smith. Protecting the unborn has been one of the very most significant goals of my life, pubic and otherwise.
Chemical abortion drugs should meet essential safety standards (such as in-person consultation with a medical doctor) and require reporting to gather evidence on reactions and outcomes.
Strongly Agree
Most of the time abortion drugs kill a child, so I'm not sure how one would ever suggest that they are safe. I support safety measures of any drug including abortion drugs for the mother. Reporting on evidence on reactions and outcomes is only common sense. I don't think abortion drug should be used unless they are used to save the life of the mother.
Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?
I believe the unborn child to be a human being with the innate and constitutional right to live and that abortion should not be allowed except to save the life of the mother. I believe taking an innocent human life can only be justified to save another innocent human life and that, even then, everything should be done to save both the life of the mother and the baby.
Does the federal government have a role to play in limiting abortion, and if so what federal steps and/or federal legislation would you support?
I Believe the Word Person in the 14th amendment of the Constitution includes the unborn child. I would therefore support both federal and state legislation protecting unborn children the same as born children should be protected, as persons under the Constitution. I definitely believe Congress should pass federal protection for unborn children. Members of Congress swear before God to uphold the U.S. Constitution, that should include protecting the basic right to life in the fifth and 14th amendment of the Constitution for the most innocent of all human beings.
ECONOMY
What actions would you take that would allow Americans to retain more of their income and wealth?
I sponsored legislation to balance the federal budget, ending all income taxes on Social Security income, abolishing and replacing the current income tax with a specifically defined national sales tax. This would supercharge the economy and put more money in everyone's pocket. I've also never voted for any net increase in the rate of taxes on the American people in my entire public life.
Student loan forgiveness unfairly shifts the financial burden to those not responsible for student debt.
Strongly Agree
Government involvement in education has reduced its quality and increased its cost. Free enterprise and market competition has given us the greatest productivity and quality in the world. We should apply it to education is much as possible.
Should environmental and social issues, like ESG (environmental, social, and governance) ratings, be used as criteria in deciding where to invest public monies?
No
Absolutely not. We should not allow left-wing propaganda and arrogant, Marxist ideology to dictate investment of public monies.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
First, the phrase "separation of church and state" does not appear in the U.S. Constitution as it once did in the Soviet Constitution. I strongly believe in the First Amendment to the Constitution that government should never mandate any particular church upon any person or state and that government should strictly recognize the free exercise of religion and the religious freedom of all people. I was chairman of the religious freedom caucus in Congress.
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
The right of association and freedom of religious conviction so long as it does not deprive others of their constitutional rights is foundational to every American citizen. I strongly oppose forcing Individuals or businesses to provide services that violate their moral and religious beliefs.
HEALTHCARE
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
I don't believe government should ever be allowed to mandate vaccinations on individuals. If government can force one to be physically vaccinated, where does government's power ever end?
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) Taxpayer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be defunded.
C. However, I believe Medicaid and Medicare should be reformed to allow recipients to be able to choose insurance and medical services from the private sector as much as possible.
NATIONAL SECURITY
With regard to America's foreign policy, which view most closely resembles yours: A) The United States should intervene whenever freedom is threatened. B) The United States should selectively help countries trying to grow democracy and fight tyranny. C) The United States has become too involved in others' policies and should remain focused on issues regarding our own sovereignty unless in imminent danger. D) The United States should stay out of foreign conflicts completely.
C is the closest. America's military action should be predicated on America's national security. It is important to carefully consider the geopolitical realities in the world and how events might unfold to threaten American freedom and freedom in general. We must not make the mistake that we did in World War II and wait for monsters like Hitler to grow into a malevolent capacity that could threaten our freedom as well as our allies. America should be the strongest nation in the world. We should never practice expansionist policies. However, we must never let evil grow till it becomes a serious threat to us and everyone else.
The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.
Strongly Disagree
I believe the CCP is our most dangerous external adversary and should be treated as such In our economic, defense, and diplomatic policies.
Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?
I was Chairman of the Israel Allies Caucus when I was in Congress. America's relationship with Israel is absolutely vital to the peace and security of both of our nations and the world at large. I believe anti-Semitic support for for the monsters of Hamas is a hellish evil beyond describing. I believe there are few things America could do that would threaten our future more than betraying and abandoning Israel.
What are the causes of decline in U.S. military recruitment and retention?
I believe left-wing ideologues have relentlessly and disgracefully labored to devalue and besmirch the gallant calling of military service. I believe our men and women in uniform are the noblest figures in human society. Unfortunately, a Marxist, woke ideology has attempted to turn the greatest military in the world into a social experiment. We should not wonder why those who hold such a burning desire to serve the cause of human freedom are bewildered by such stupidity. We should never forget that the courage, the love of freedom, and the love for their fellow human beings in the hearts of our patriots is our greatest military asset.
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Strongly Agree
It has been said so many times that a nation without borders is no longer nation at all. Our failure to secure our border is not just an immigration problem, rather it has become a national security emergency. I cosponsored legislation to build a physical wall, empower law enforcement to apprehend illegal border crossers, strengthen our deportation laws, and close asylum loopholes.
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
Those who comport with the principles of the American Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution should be considered for immigration into the United States if it is on a completely legal basis and is in the best interest of the United States at the time.
EDUCATION
I support school choice, including voucher programs, tax credits, charter schools, private schools, and home schools.
Strongly Agree
I have supported all of the items listed in the question. I was privileged to be the author and leading proponent of the landmark Scholarship Tax Credit Bill in Arizona which survived three US Supreme Court challenges from the left. It not only brought school choice to Arizona, but the last time it was upheld in the US Supreme Court in 2020, it broke open a new day school choice for all of America.
I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving control back to states and communities.
Strongly Agree
I believe the federal government has no direct role to play in education. I have worked for school choice and parents' rights in the education of their children all of my public life. Please see the answer to the previous question. It will be parents who love their children or bureaucrats who don't know their names who will decide what is taught to coming generations. It is a question of inexpressible gravity.
VALUES
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.
Strongly Agree
When government was ceded the legal authority to define marriage, it defined it to mean essentially anything. No religious entity should ever be compelled to sanction any marriage outside of their own religious tenets.
Children are the most vulnerable members of society and must be protected from abuse, including gender ideology, grooming, and bodily mutilation.
Strongly Agree
Any person or entity that performs sex change surgery on an underage child against their parents wishes or without their knowledge should be subject to felony prosecution.
Taxpayer funds should be used to provide gender transition services.
Strongly Disagree
Gender transition services is just one of the many areas that taxpayer should never be compelled to fund.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Savior just before I turned eight years old. That remains the greatest and most meaningful decision I've ever made. While I do and will always fall short of being the Christian I aspire to be, My commitment to Christ remains my most cherished and deeply held commitment in this life and eternity.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
Voting remains one of the most sacred responsibilities in American society, and election integrity must be of paramount priority. That includes requiring proof of identification and citizenship to vote.
The Electoral College should be abolished.
Strongly Disagree
The founding fathers demonstrated great wisdom in creating the electoral college to ensure broad societal involvement in presidential elections as well as intrinsic safeguards to protect the Constitution and the people from centralized governmental duplicity.
EQUALITY
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Strongly Disagree
Deliberately and falsely dividing this nation along racial lines is the ultimate racism.
Biological males should not be allowed to participate in women's sports or occupy biological women's spaces whether it be bathrooms, locker rooms, sorority houses, women's shelters, or prison.
Strongly Agree
Biological males should absolutely be forbidden from destroying women sports in the name of gender neutrality.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Man-made climate change is a global threat and requires urgent political action.
Strongly Disagree
The intermittent ebb and flow of global temperatures has been a reality of nature for as long as we have reliable data. If we carefully plot the very slow and, thus far, inconsequential increase of global temperatures over the last 300 years, there is no compelling data to indicate that the emergence of fossil fuels had any appreciable impact on that trend.
What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?
America will very likely continue to need increasing quantities of petroleum-based energy for many decades to come with nuclear energy being the most promising and capable supply in the future.
ABOUT YOU
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
At one point, I was rated as "Most conservative" among members of Congress
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
To protect the innocent (especially those most helpless) and their constitutional rights.
Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.
No
Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.
No
JUDICIAL PHILOSOPHY
The Supreme Court should be reformed to include more seats.
Strongly Disagree
Packing the court is generally a way of further politicizing the court. Politicization is already the Court's greatest challenge. Nine Supreme Court Justices deeply committed to applying the Constitution honestly and according to its original intent should be our imperative strategy to protect the Constitution and the constitutional rights it affords to all Americans.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
I support redirecting funds from police departments to community programs.
Strongly Disagree
I absolutely do not support the defund the police movement. It is preposterous on its face. It is an insult to the most noble figures of our society who risk their own lives to protect all of us, it is a danger to everyone in society, and it is just another woke insanity that didn't, and will never, work for the betterment of America and her people.
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
Government should be restricted from abrogating the people's second amendment right to own and bear arms.
