Bryan Hughes
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
Bryan Hughes
Party
Republican
Election Year
2020
Election
General
Race
State Senator, Dist. 1
Incumbent
Yes
Links
EDUCATION
University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, BBA - Economics, 1992
Baylor University School of Law, Waco, Juris Doctor, 1995
WORK & MILITARY
Bryan Hughes Law Firm
US District Judge William Steger, Law Clerk, 1995-1997
AFFILIATIONS
Golden Bible Chapel, Elder, Texas Right to Life
Pro-Life Whip of Texas House, NRA, Life Member
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
State Representative, 2003-2017
State Senator, 2017-Present
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
(Candidate did not provide)
Race
Previous Races
SCORECARDS
CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS
2017
100%
2017
100%
2019
98%
2019
97%, 97% (cum.)†
2019
85%
2019
82%
2019
81%, 81% (cum.)†
2019
81%
2012
81%
2019
76%, 78% (cum.)†
2017
|100%
2019
|98%
2019
|97%, 97% (cum.)†
2019
|85%
2019
|82%
2019
|81%, 81% (cum.)†
2012
|81%
2019
|76%, 78% (cum.)†
LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS
2019
30%, 28% (cum.)†
2019
21%
2019
F
2019
0%
2019
|30%, 28% (cum.)†
2019
|21%
2019
|F
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 (6)
East Texans for Liberty PAC
National Rifle Association (NRA) PVF
Texas Home School Coalition
Texas Right to Life
Texas State Rifle Association
OTHER (6)
*Americans for Prosperity Action
Greg Abbott
*National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Texas
Texas Association of Realtors/TREPAC
Texas Medical Association (TEXPAC)
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (2)
Texas Farm Bureau
Texas Right to Life
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (33)
Bob Hall (2018)
Charles Lee Perry (2014)
Cole Hefner (2017)
Daniel Webster (2011)
David Simpson (2012)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (47)
Campaign for Republican Leadership (2007)
Cathie Adams (2012)
Chris Paddie (2007)
Cole Hefner (2013)
Dan Patrick (2016)
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (2)
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (2014)
National Education Association (national, state & local affiliates) (2014)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (11)
American Association for Justice (2007)
American Federation of Teachers (2011)
Association of Texas Professional Educators (2007)
Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (2007)
Communication Workers of America (2016)
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Human life begins at conception and deserves legal protection at every stage until natural death.
Strongly Agree
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds or grants from federal, state, or local governments.
Strongly Agree
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
The little unborn baby in her Mother’s womb is the most helpless and the most innocent that a human being can ever be. She deserves the full protection of the law.
ECONOMY
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has a livable income.
Strongly Disagree
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
Government spending should focus on core, constitutional responsibilities.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Governments should not discriminate against individuals, organizations or small businesses because of their belief that marriage is only a union of one man and one woman.
Strongly Agree
Governments should define marriage as between one man and one woman; no other definition of marriage should be legalized or supported with taxpayer or public funds.
Strongly Agree
Religious liberty is at risk in the United States and deserves the highest level of protection in the law.
Strongly Agree
I promise to protect the freedom of Christians to share the Gospel and to practice Biblical principles.
Yes
What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
The phrase does not appear in the Constitution. The constitution does provide that congress shall maintain a position of neutrality toward religion.
HEALTHCARE
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has health insurance.
Strongly Disagree
How would you promote healthcare coverage that is adequate, affordable and accessible for all?
Sadly, the free market has been so removed from the system that health care decisions today are largely made by insurance companies and by the government. Putting decision making in the hands of patients will solve many of the problems in our health care system. Health Savings Accounts, where patients can use pre-tax dollars to pay for healthcare, will be a good start. Expanding Medicaid, as some advocate, would be just about the worst move we could make. Fewer and fewer medical providers are willing to accept Medicaid. Expanding Medicaid would be like putting more people on the Titanic.
NATIONAL SECURITY
The best way to maintain peace is through a strong military.
Strongly Agree
IMMIGRATION
I am in favor of construction of a wall and other necessary infrastructure on our border that gives complete control over entering and exiting the United States.
Strongly Agree
State and federal funds should be denied to any public or private entity, including but not limited to sanctuary cities, that are not in compliance with immigration laws.
Strongly Agree
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
We are a nation of immigrants, and there is no doubt that immigrants who come to America legally to assimilate and to become Americans make tremendous contributions to this country. Illegal immigration is a different matter and must be stopped.
EDUCATION
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Strongly Disagree
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Strongly Agree
I support adding sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression as protected classes in non-discrimination laws.
Strongly Disagree
Promotion of the LGBT agenda in public schools, including teaching of “sexual orientation” and “gender identity”, is completely inappropriate and should be opposed at the state and local level.
Strongly Agree
I support allowing public high school students to participate in athletic competition based on the gender with which they identify instead of biological sex.
Strongly Disagree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a sinner (Romans 3:23). My sin separated me from God (Romans 6:23). The Lord Jesus - the Creator of the Universe - loves us all so much that He came to this earth in human form as a Baby, grew up as a Man and lived a perfect and sinless life. He voluntarily gave up His life, dying on the cross, where He paid the penalty for my sins and for the sins of the whole world (Romans 5:8). After three days, He rose up from the grave, proving that He had defeated sin and death (Romans 6:9; II Timothy 1:10). I have received the free gift of salvation that He offers to everyone, confessing that I am a sinner and completely unable to save myself (Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 10:9-10). We know that He keeps His promises, so I am now part of His family and my eternal destiny is secure because of what the Lord Jesus has done (John 5:24).
ABOUT YOU
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and immigration, which of the following best describes you overall?
Very Conservative
Please provide publicly available information validating your answer to the previous question.
I’ve been ranked by numerous independent groups and identified by many media outlets as one of the most conservative members of the Legislature.
What education or experience qualifies you to hold the office for which you seek election?
I was blessed with a solid K-12 education in Texas public schools. By God's grace I was the first member of my family to earn a Bachelor's degree, and I've also had the privilege of receiving a law degree. I ask folks to look at my record in the Legislature to determine whether I should remain in office.
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
No.
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you?
Did not answer
JUDICIAL PHILOSOPHY
I support the use of Sharia law as a basis for legislation and judicial decisions in the United States.
Strongly Disagree
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Mandatory minimum sentencing should be required and enforced for violent crimes.
Did not answer
2ND AMENDMENT
Should teachers be allowed to carry guns at school?
Yes
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
Current laws should be enforced. No additional restrictions should be added.
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
I support the legalization of recreational marijuana.
Strongly Disagree
The Electoral College should be abolished.
Strongly Disagree
In priority order, what three areas of legislation do you propose to author or sponsor if elected?
Protection of innocent human life - the government's highest responsibility. Protection of religious liberty - under increasing attack. Protection of economic freedom - spreading opportunity and prosperity for everyone.
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Many today are using racial matters to spread division and even violence in our country. Of course we have a long way to go toward a colorblind society where each one is judged by the content of his character rather than the color of his skin. But American history has been about expanding the circle of liberty, and bringing more and more people into the full protection of the law. By God's grace, this work will continue - in spite of the best efforts of so many in the national media who want to move us backwards.
