Cole Hefner

Republican | Texas

Candidate Profile*

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

2026


Election

Republican Primary


Race

State Representative 5


Incumbent

Yes


Links

Cole Hefner websites Facebook

EDUCATION

Home School, Pittsburg, 1991-1999

WORK & MILITARY

Construction, Owner, 1999-2006

Construction, Vice President, 2006-2015

Insurance, Agent, 2014-2025

AFFILIATIONS

Rotary, Member, 2009-2015

Member, South Jefferson Baptist Church, 2007-2025

National Rifle Association (NRA), Member, 2016-2025

POLITICAL OFFICES HELD

State Representative - District 5, 2017-2025

County Commissioner, 2011-2014

POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT

State Representative - District 5, 2025-2025

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 (13)

Young Conservatives of Texas

*National Rifle Association NRA-PVF

Texas Home School Coalition THSC PAC

Ted Cruz

*Texas Values Action

LIBERAL (1)

*Houston Police Officers Union PAC

OTHER (6)

Greg Abbott

President Donald J. Trump

Texas Alliance for Life TAL PAC

*Texas Association of Realtors TREPAC

Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas CLEAT PAC

REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (18)

President Donald J. Trump

2025-2025

Governor Greg Abbott

2025-2025

Senator Ted Cruz

SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS

CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (53)

East Texans For Liberty (2024)

Republican Womens Organizations (2024)

Hank Hering (2023)

#PROJECTREDTX (2022)

Ben Bumgarner (2022)

RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (46)

Chris Spencer (2024)

Dan Patrick (2024)

Greg Abbott (2024)

Kevin Eltife (2024)

Ray L. Hunt (2024)


LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (1)

Mary E. González (2019)

RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (4)

American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees (2024)

KCI Holdings (2024)

Texas Sands (2022)

Texas Trial Lawyers Association (2022)

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. 

Candidate graded F by pro-marijuana group NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws).

Candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024.

Candidate profile. Grassroots Priorities Government Transparency Tool by Grassroots America We the People.

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?

Elective abortion should not be allowed. Human life is a precious blessing from God, and should always be vigorously protected from conception to natural death.

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?

The true "minimum wage" is zero. The government imposing a minimum wage on employers leads to a distorted employment market and in reality, prevents potential job-seekers from obtaining employment.

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.

Increase and enhance program auditing (especially entitlements) to identify and eliminate fraud and waste. Reduce state and local budgets to bring down the overall tax burden and lower the overall available pool of taxpayer dollars that have the potential to be subject to government waste. Eliminate, consolidate, and drastically reduce state agencies (through sunset process or legislation) to increase efficiency and identify functions of state agencies that are actually necessary and competent.


RELIGIOUS LIBERTY

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

While this phrase does not appear in the United States or Texas Constitution, the concept of the "separation of church and state" must be construed as keeping the government out of our churches and not the other way around. This nation was founded on Christian principles and these principles should continue to guide our government now and in the future.

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.

Medicare should remain available for taxpayers who have paid into this program through premiums for many years or decades. Medicaid is unfortunately riddled with fraud, waste, and abuse and should be defunded.

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 poses a serious threat, and perhaps the most serious threat, to the United States. I have worked diligently to strengthen our national and state security against the Chinest Communist Party and all hostile foreign adversaries and look forward to continuing that work.

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

Yes the United States' relationship with Israel is important for multiple reasons. These reasons include the biblical importance of Israel and America's calling to support Israel, in addition to practical strategic/defense importance.


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.

Strongly Disagree

Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.

I believe that accepting Jesus is the only way to salvation and eternal life. I believe that the Bible is the Word of God.


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?

Oil and natural gas remain the most reliable energy source that is currently deployable. Nuclear energy and coal should also be a strong part of our domestic energy portfolio.


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 swiftly punish those who break our laws and protect the innocent.

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?

Public safety is enhanced when laws restricting lawful gun ownership are repealed. Very few restrictions -either federal or state- are necessary.

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