Cole Hefner

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

Cole Hefner


Party

Republican


Election Year

2022


Election

Primary


Race

State Rep., Dist. 5


Incumbent

Yes


Links

Cole Hefner websites Facebook

EDUCATION

Home School, Pittsburg

WORK & MILITARY

Construction, Owner, 7

Construction, Vice President, 8.5

Insurance, Agent, 7

AFFILIATIONS

Rotary, Member, Lions Club

Member, South Jefferson Baptist Church, Member

National Rifle Association (NRA), Member

POLITICAL OFFICES HELD

State Representative, 5

County Commissioner, 4

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)

East Texans for Liberty PAC

Glenn Hegar

*Gun Owners of America - Texas

National Rifle Association (NRA) PVF

Texas Conservative Party

OTHER (4)

Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas

National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Texas

Texas Association of Realtors/TREPAC

Texas Farm Bureau AGFUND

REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (10)

National Rifle Association (NRA) PVF

Young Conservatives of Texas (YCT)

Comptroller Glenn Hegar

Railroad Commissioner Wayne Christian

Senator Bryan Hughes

SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS

CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (32)

Brad Buckley (2020)

Briscoe Cain (2019)

Bryan Hughes (2013)

David Cook (TX) (2020)

David Simpson (2013)

RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (23)

Bryan Hughes (2017)

Dan Patrick (2018)

Eagle Forum (2016)

Empower Texans (2017)

Greg Abbott (2019)


LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (1)

Mary E Gonzalez (2019)

RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (3)

American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees (2020)

International Association of Firefighters (includes national, state & local affiliates) (2016)

Texas Trial Lawyers Association (2020)

OTHER INFORMATION

Candidate was 8th most conservative State House member according to Rice University 2021 analysis.

QUESTIONNAIRE

RIGHT TO LIFE

Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?

Human life is a precious blessing from God, and should always be vigorously protected from conception to natural death.

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.

Strongly Disagree


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?

The government should have no authority to close churches and houses of worship.


NATIONAL SECURITY

What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?

First, the current administration should exhibit leadership by refocusing the federal government on Constitutional priorities, rooted in Biblical principles. Additionally, it remains important for our armed forces to have a strong presence abroad in order to protect American lives and interests and work towards eliminating Islamic terrorism.

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


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.

C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary.

Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?

A government, school, or employer should not be allowed to intervene in private health decisions, including vaccinations.


ECONOMY

What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?

The tax code is far too large and far too complicated. Many taxes should be abolished entirely and the tax code itself should be greatly simplified.

What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?

Government spending needs to be reduced in nearly every area and program, and we should reevaluate our current budget process. A system of zero-based budgeting would enable the government to assess the legitimate needs that exist instead of wasting taxpayer dollars at an ever-increasing rate.

Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.

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?

We should welcome immigrants who are law-abiding and want to be productive citizens who are willing to assimilate into our American culture. They must go through the citizenship process. As a sovereign nation, we should have absolute control over our borders and dictate the flow of those who wish to enter our country, whether temporarily or on a permanent basis.


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?

The fewer restrictions that are placed on law-abiding gun owners that want to exercise their Second Amendment rights, the safer the public will be.

Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.

Strongly Disagree


ABOUT YOU

What do you think is the general purpose of government?

The general purpose of government is to protect and advance individual liberties and economic freedom.

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).

I have previously served as a Republican Precinct Chairman and for 4 years as a County Commissioner where I fought to cut spending and protect taxpayers. I then helped to found a conservative activist group in East Texas. Since 2017, I have served as State Representative for District 5 and I am proud of my strong conservative voting record since I have been in the Legislature.

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 have been blessed to serve as State Representative for House District 5 since 2017, and I would be honored to continue to serve in that role. I know that these elected positions are earned and not given. I hope to earn the votes of East Texans and to continue to represent them with principled conservatism.


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 believe that Jesus Christ came to Earth to die for our sins and that the only way to eternal life is to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. This knowledge should be the guiding light for our values and actions.


ELECTIONS AND VOTING

People should be able to vote without photo identification.

Strongly Disagree

What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?

I have proposed, coauthored, and voted for legislation that ensures that it is simple for Texans to vote, but difficult to cheat. Additionally, I believe we should ensure that every alterable component of Texas voting systems should originate in the United States, which I proposed as legislation in the most recent legislative session. The legislature should prioritize election integrity and security at every opportunity.


EQUALITY

Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?

Racism is reprehensible in any setting but I believe our country is threatened far more by foreign dictators and terrorist organizations that want to erase our way of life.

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.

A) 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

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