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Jay Dean

Republican | Texas

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Candidate Profile*

Moderate

*Additional information appears below for educational purposes; however, only data received prior to the candidate deadline was considered during Panel Evaluation.

BIOGRAPHY

EDUCATION

LSU, Baton Rouge, Bachelors

WORK & MILITARY

Candidate did not provide

AFFILIATIONS

St. Matthew’s Catholic Church, Founder, 1999 - present

POLITICAL OFFICES HELD

Longview City Council, 1998-2005

Mayor of Longview, 2005-2015

Texas House District 7, 2017-2026

POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT

Candidate did not provide

SCORECARDS

CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS


LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS

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)

National Rifle Association NRA-PVF

Life PAC

Bryan Hughes

National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Texas

Texans for Lawsuit Reform TLRPAC

LIBERAL (2)

Houston Police Officers Union PAC

IAFF Texas State Association of Fire Fighters

OTHER (12)

Greg Abbott

Texas Oil and Gas Association TXOGA PAC

President Donald J. Trump

Texas Association of Business TXBIZ PAC

Texas Alliance for Life TAL PAC

REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (10)

Texas Apartment Association (TAAPAC)

Longview, Marshall & Texas State Firefighters Associations

Texas County Officials PAC

Texas House Republican Caucus PAC

AG Teachers Association

SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS

CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (30)

Angela Paxton (2025)

Donald Trump (2025)

East Texans For Liberty (2025)

Kelly Hancock (2025)

Local, County, and District Republican Organizations (2025)

RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (20)

Dustin Burrows (2026)

East Texas Conservative PAC (2026)

State Republican Party Organizations (2026)

Texans for Truth and Liberty PAC (2026)

ACE Cash Express (2024)


LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (2)

Nathan Johnson (2026)

Sheryl Cole (2025)

RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (7)

American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees (2026)

Association of Texas Professional Educators (2026)

Texas Sands (2026)

Texas Trial Lawyers Association (2026)

United Assoc of Journeymen & Apprentices - Plumbing & Pipe Fitting Industry (2026)

OTHER INFORMATION

The 2025 Texas House from right to left according to analysis by Rice University’s James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy. 

The 2023 Texas House from right to left according to analysis by Rice University’s James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy. 

On 11/2/2023 Rep. Dean opposed school choice on Facebook page.

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?

Only when absolutely necessary to save the life of the mother.

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

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?

I believe wages should primarily be determined by the free market, not government mandates. A strong economy, job creation, workforce development, and competition for good employees are the best ways to increase wages and opportunity.

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.

Eliminate duplicative programs and unnecessary bureaucracy; require greater accountability and transparency in government spending; conduct regular performance and efficiency audits of state agencies; reduce administrative overhead; and ensure taxpayer dollars are focused on core government responsibilities and measurable results.


RELIGIOUS LIBERTY

What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?

The Constitution prohibits government from establishing a religion while protecting every American’s right to freely exercise their faith. Separation of church and state was never intended to remove faith from public life, but to protect religious liberty from 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.

C. Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, while healthcare policy should emphasize private-sector competition, affordability, transparency, and patient choice rather than expanding government-run healthcare.

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

Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?

Yes. Israel is a critical ally of the United States and an important partner in advancing security, stability, and American interests in the Middle East. Our relationship is strengthened by shared democratic values, intelligence and defense cooperation, and a mutual commitment to confronting terrorism and other threats to peace and security.


IMMIGRATION

I support the existence of sanctuary cities to protect undocumented persons.

Strongly Disagree


EDUCATION

I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving control back to states and communities.

Strongly Agree

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

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.

Agree

A responsible and carefully regulated expansion of gaming that benefits Texas taxpayers could be appropriate. If expanded, gaming revenue should be used to provide meaningful property tax relief, create good-paying jobs, strengthen our economy, and keep Texas dollars in Texas rather than sending them to neighboring states, like Louisiana that already have legalized gambling.

Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.

My Catholic faith is the foundation of my life and guides how I strive to serve my family, community, and constituents. My wife and I helped found St. Matthew’s Catholic Church in Longview in 1999. I believe in the sanctity of life, the dignity of every person, strong families, personal responsibility, compassion for others, and serving with integrity.


ELECTIONS AND VOTING

People should be able to vote without photo identification.

Strongly Disagree


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?

Natural gas and nuclear power provide the reliable, affordable energy Texas needs to meet growing electricity demand while maintaining energy independence.


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

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?

To protect the public, uphold the rule of law, hold offenders accountable, support victims, and administer justice fairly while providing appropriate opportunities for rehabilitation.

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


2ND AMENDMENT

What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?

I strongly support the Second Amendment and oppose additional restrictions that infringe upon the rights of law-abiding citizens. Public safety is best served by enforcing existing laws and holding violent criminals accountable, not restricting the constitutional rights of responsible gun owners.

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