Dawn Buckingham
Republican | Texas
Candidate Profile*
Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
EDUCATION
University of Texas at Austin, Austin, BS - Kinesiology, -1992
University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, MD, -1997
WORK & MILITARY
(Candidate did not provide)
AFFILIATIONS
(Candidate did not provide)
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Lake Travis ISD School Board Member, 2012-2015
State Board of Educator Certification - Vice Chair, 2013-2016
Texas State Senator District 24, 2017-2022
Texas Land Commissioner, 2023-2026
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
(Candidate did not provide)
SCORECARDS
CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS
2020-21
100%
2021
100%
2021
95%
2021
88%, 90% (cum.)†
2019
82%
2021
78%
2020-21
|100%
2021
|100%
2021
|95%
2021
|88%, 90% (cum.)†
2019
|82%
2021
|78%
LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS
2019
50%, 38% (cum.)†
2021
14%
2022
F
2019
0%
2019
0%
2019
|50%, 38% (cum.)†
2021
|14%
2022
|F
2019
|0%
2019
|0%
ENDORSEMENTS*
CONSERVATIVE (19)
*Young Conservatives of Texas
Texas Home School Coalition THSC PAC
Gun Owners of America
Texas Values Action
*Dan Patrick
LIBERAL (2)
Houston Police Officers Union PAC
*IAFF Texas State Association of Fire Fighters
OTHER (16)
Greg Abbott
Texas Oil and Gas Association TXOGA PAC
President Donald J. Trump
Texas Association of Business TXBIZ PAC
*National Border Patrol Council NBPC
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (10)
Bulverde Spring Branch Conservative Republicans
Coastal Bend Conservative Coalition
Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC)
East Texans for Liberty
Gun Owners of America
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (39)
Local, County, and District Republican Organizations (2026)
Local, County, District Republican Organizations (2026)
Republican Womens Organizations (2026)
True Texas Project (2026)
Young Republican National Federation (2025)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (70)
Republican Womens Organizations (2026)
Texans for Good Government PAC (2026)
Aaron Kinsey (2025)
Armin Mizani (2025)
Cody & Tara Campbell (2025)
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (3)
Royce West (2017)
Donna Howard (2012)
Kirk Watson (2010)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (4)
Texas Sands (2026)
John Turner (2023)
Morgan Lamantia (2020)
Texas Trial Lawyers Association (2020)
OTHER INFORMATION
Keynote speech. Texas Faith Fest. Texas Values YouTube. 3 Oct 2025. 37:32 min.
Video interview. Real Texans. Texas Scorecard YouTube. 20 Jul 2025. 34:24 min.
Candidate was 8th most conservative State Senator according to Rice University 2021 analysis.
Candidate was 13th most conservative Texas State Senator according to the 2019 Rice University analysis.
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
Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?
Every human life, born and unborn, is a blessing from God and deserves protection. As a physician, I understand the value and vulnerability of life. As a state senator, I co-authored the Texas Heartbeat Act and supported strong protections for unborn children and their mothers.
Human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.
Strongly Agree
The lives of human embryos created through artificial methods ought to be protected from purposeful destruction.
Strongly Agree
I believe life deserves protection, while ensuring families continue to have access to IVF and fertility treatments that help them experience the blessing of parenthood.
The Comstock Act, which bans interstate transportation of abortion-inducing drugs, should be enforced.
Strongly Agree
ECONOMY
What is your position on the minimum wage?
overnment mandates do not create prosperity – good jobs and a strong economy do. As a small-business owner, I understand that an arbitrary minimum-wage increase can raise costs, eliminate entry-level jobs, and hurt workers.
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
List your top 3-5 priorities to eliminate government waste.
1. Cut unnecessary regulations and red tape 2. Require competitive bidding and strong contract oversight 3. Eliminate duplicative and ineffective government programs
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
To me, separation of church and state means government must not establish an official religion, no faith should be excluded from public life. America was founded on God-given rights and Christian principles. My Christian faith guides how I serve, and every morning I put on the full armor of God. I will always defend the right of every Texan to worship freely, live out their faith, and follow their conscience without government interference.
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
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) Taxpayer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be defunded.
I support preserving Medicare and Medicaid for the seniors, individuals with disabilities, and vulnerable Texans who truly depend on them. But I strongly oppose expanding government programs in ways that move us towards a socialist healthcare system. We should protect the safety net, promote personal choice and competition, and lower healthcare costs without putting Washington D.C. and insurance bureaucrats between patients and their doctors.
The government should keep a database of people with various ongoing medical illnesses to assess the economic burden of treatment.
Strongly Disagree
NATIONAL SECURITY
The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.
Strongly Agree
The Chinese Communist Party threatens America’s national security, economic strength, intellectual property, and technological leadership. We cannot allow China to control the critical minerals that power our economy and national defense. That is why the GLO is helping unlock rare earth elements at Round Top Mountain and build a domestic mine-to-magnet supply chain in Texas–creating jobs, strengthening American independence and keeping critical resources out of the CCP’s hands.
Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?
Yes. Israel is America’s strongest military ally in the Middle East, and our nations are bound by shared ideals and Judeo-Christian values. Our partnership strengthens national security, advances innovation and helps identify and eliminate threats and adversaries in the region. In the Texas Senate, I supported legislation to strengthen prohibitions on government contracts with companies that boycott Israel.
IMMIGRATION
I support the existence of sanctuary cities to protect undocumented persons.
Strongly Disagree
Sanctuary cities undermine the rule of law, obstruct enforcement, and make our communities less safe. In the Texas Senate, I co-authored SB4 banning sanctuary cities. Texas must support secure borders and cooperation among federal, state, and local law enforcement. As Land Commissioner, I have made securing the border from cartel activity and trafficking a priority. We must protect Texans, hold criminals accountable and prevent violent transnational organizations from exploiting our state.
EDUCATION
I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving control back to states and communities.
Strongly Agree
I strongly support returning education decisions to states, local communities, parents, and teachers who know their students best. The federal government should not dictate what Texas teaches Texas children. Texas should set its own educational priorities and ensure every student has the opportunities and tools to succeed
Foreign governments should be prohibited from funding American education.
Strongly Agree
VALUES
Government should recognize and support the fundamental right and essential duty of parents to direct their child's health and educational well-being.
Strongly Agree
As a mom of two, I believe parents – not government bureaucrats – have the right and responsibility to direct their children’s education and healthcare. Parents deserve transparency, a voice in every major decision and the final say over what is best for their child. As Land Commissioner, I have generated more than $6 billion for public education without raising taxes while supporting stronger schools, better student outcomes and our proud Texas heritage.
Attempts to physically or socially transition a child to the opposite sex constitute child abuse.
Strongly Agree
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
I support the expansion of gambling in my state.
Strongly Disagree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a Christian, and my faith in Jesus Christ is the foundation of my life, my family, and my public service. Every morning I put on the full armor of God and ask Him for wisdom, strength, and guidance. I believe we are called to serve others, protect the vulnerable, keep our word and act with integrity. As a mom, physician, small-business owner and public servant, I strive to honor God through hard work, personal responsibility and faithful service to the people of Texas.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
I strongly support voter ID requirements. In the Texas Senate, I authored landmark election integrity legislation strengthening photo ID requirements. Texans should have confidence that our elections are secure, transparent, and conducted according to the law. Requiring photo identification is a commonsense safeguard that protects the integrity of the ballot while ensuring eligible voters can participate. Every legal vote should count, and Texans deserve to know their elections are secure.
EQUALITY
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Strongly Disagree
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
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Man-made climate change is a global threat and requires urgent political action.
Strongly Disagree
What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?
Texas needs an all-of-the-above energy strategy to meet growing demand and fuel our state for generations. Natural gas provides reliable, dispatchible power today, while small modular nuclear reactors and geothermal offer tremendous promise
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
I am a Christian conservative who believes in faith, family, liberty, limited government, secure borders and American strength. I worked two jobs in college to graduate debt-free, became a physician, built a small business and served as a volunteer firefighter before entering public service. As Land Commissioner, I have turned conservative principles into results – generating over $6 billion for public education without raising taxes, defending Texas energy and securing our border.
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.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
What should be the goal of the criminal justice system?
The primary responsibility of the criminal justice system is to protect law-abiding citizens, hold criminals accountable, and uphold the rule of law. Victims deserve justice, law enforcement deserve our support, and dangerous criminals should face the consequences of their actions.
Government has a responsibility to protect children from sexual exploitation during online activities.
Strongly Agree
Sharia law should not be accepted or incorporated in any form within the legal framework of the United States.
Strongly Agree
The United States is governed by the Constitution and laws enacted under it. No religious legal system should supersede American law or constitutional rights. I believe Sharia law is incompatible with the American constitutional system and the principles of individual liberty, equal protection, and religious freedom that define our nation.
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
The Second Amendment is clear and protects the God given right for Americans to keep and bear arms. In the Texas Senate, I co-authored constitutional carry legislation.
