Valoree Swanson
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
Valoree Swanson
Party
Republican
Election Year
2020
Election
General
Race
State Rep., Dist. 150
Incumbent
Yes
Links
EDUCATION
Baylor University, Waco, TX, BBA, 1980
El Campo High School, El Campo, TX, High School, 1976
WORK & MILITARY
(Candidate did not provide)
AFFILIATIONS
Texas Values, Supporter, Conservative Coalition of Harris County
Past Board Member, WoodsEdge Community Church, Active member involved in various ministries
Texas Right to Life, supporter & activist, Texas Tea Party Republican Women
Board Member for many years, Concerned Women for America, Supporter & activist
Bluesheet (vetting & electing conservatives), Founder & leader, 1st Liberty Institute & Vision America
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
State Republican Exec. Committeewoman (SREC) SD 7, 8
Republican Precinct Chair, 23
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
none
none
Race
Previous Races
SCORECARDS
CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS
2017
100%
2019
100%
2019
100%
2019
85%, 90% (cum.)†
2019
88%
2019
88%
2019
84%
2019
78%, 78% (cum.)†
2019
72%, 63% (cum.)†
2019
|100%
2019
|100%
2019
|85%, 90% (cum.)†
2019
|88%
2019
|88%
2019
|78%, 78% (cum.)†
2019
|72%, 63% (cum.)†
LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS
2019
29%
2019
40%, 20% (cum.)†
2019
F
2019
0%
2019
|29%
2019
|40%, 20% (cum.)†
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 (8)
National Rifle Association (NRA) PVF
Sid Miller
Texas Home School Coalition
Texas Right to Life
Texas State Rifle Association
OTHER (7)
*Americans for Prosperity Action
C Club of Houston
HRBC, Houston's Premier Business Coalition
*National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Texas
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (6)
Governor Greg Abbott
Sen. Paul Bettencourt
Dr. Steven Hotze-Conservative Republicans of Texas
Jonathan Saenz-Texas Values
Donna Bahorich & Barbara Cargill-fmr Chairs SBOE
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (18)
Briscoe Cain (2019)
Campaign For Texas Families (2015)
Cathie Adams (2010)
Conservative Coalition of Harris County (2014)
Conservative Republicans of Texas (2016)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (26)
Briscoe Cain (2018)
Conservative Republicans of Texas (2016)
Dan Patrick (2018)
Eagle Forum (2016)
Empower Texans (2017)
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (1)
Philip Cortez (2019)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (3)
General Contractors' Association of Pennsylvania (2016)
International Association of Firefighters (includes national, state & local affiliates) (2018)
Stonewall Democrats (2014)
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?
There is never a time that abortion should be allowed. Every unborn child is made in the image of God. We must respect the sanctity of life. Concerning babies conceived in rape or incest, unborn babies should never be killed due to the sins of their biological father. They are still creations of almighty God and have every right to live. In the extremely rare cases where a pregnancy truly threatens the life of the mother, the unborn baby can be delivered early and given medical care. If it is too young and does not survive, this is still preferable to chopping up or poisoning the unborn child before removing it.
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?
I would reduce spending on many things, especially on things that are not the proper role of government.
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?
Separation of church and state means that the state is not allowed to interfere with or restrict religious freedom or to institute a state religion. It does NOT mean that Christians or other religious people cannot be involved in politics.
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?
I would support bills to allow more freedom for consumers to buy health insurance across state lines and other measures to create more competition among insurance companies, medical providers, and pharmaceuticals. I also have supported and will continue to support bills that force medical providers and insurance companies to have much more transparency in their billing, so people can comparison shop before having procedures done and to stop surprise billing.
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?
The only people who should be allowed to immigrate are very well-vetted individuals with good character and who have something to offer to benefit the United States and who come here legally.
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 conservative Christian. I believe the Bible is the inerrant Word of God and that we are to study it and follow its teachings. I believe Jesus is the Son of God and that salvation through Jesus Christ is the only way to Heaven. I believe that religious freedom must be staunchly defended. No one should be forced to do something against their sincerely held religious convictions
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.
My very conservative voting record in both legislative sessions since I became a state representative as confirmed below: Texas Values: 100% rating for both 2017 and 2019 Texas Right to Life: 100% rating for both 2017 and 2019 Dr. Mark Jones, Rice University Ranking: Top Ten Most Conservative 2017 & 2019 Texas Conservative Coalition: Courageous Conservative Award 2017 & 2019 Texas Values: Faith & Family Champion Award 2017 & 2019 Texas Eagle Forum: Top 10% Most Conservative 2017 & 2019 Texans for Fiscal Responsibility: Top 10% 2017 & 2019 The Club for Growth Foundation: Top 10% Most Conservative American Conservative Union Foundation: Conservative Achievement Award National Rifle Association: A Rating 2017 & A+ rating 2019 Texas State Rifle Association: A Rating 2017 & A+ rating 2019
What education or experience qualifies you to hold the office for which you seek election?
Two terms of holding the office (currently running for 3rd term) Decades of conservative Republican activism, including: State Republican Executive Committee (SREC) 4 terms-8 years Republican Precinct Chair 23 years
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?
I will continue to vote as a strong conservative and to fight hard for conservative fiscal and social issues.
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.
Strongly Agree
2ND AMENDMENT
Should teachers be allowed to carry guns at school?
Yes
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
No new restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety. I have worked hard for stronger 2nd Amendment rights for law-abiding citizens, including authoring and passing HB 121 in 2019. I also coauthored several other pro-2nd Amendment bills and voted for all pro-2nd Amendment bills. Guns in the hands of good people stop criminals with guns.
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?
pro-life, pro-family, pro-religious liberty, pro-2nd Amendment, stronger parental rights, election security, bills to lower taxes and spending, bills to protect home values, border security
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Certainly we have seen it as a threat in some situations, especially recently in New York, where Jewish synagogues and Jehovah's Witness churches are being bombed or burned
