Matt Schaefer
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
Matt Schaefer
Party
Republican
Election Year
2020
Election
General
Race
State Rep., Dist. 6
Incumbent
Yes
Links
EDUCATION
Texas Tech U. Law School, Lubbock, J.D., 2005
Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Finance, 1998
WORK & MILITARY
U.S. Navy Reserve, Lieutenant Commander, 19
AFFILIATIONS
Green Acres Baptist Church, Lifetime of church attendance
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
State Rep. Dist 6, 7
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
(Candidate did not provide)
Race
SCORECARDS
CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS
2017
100%
2019
100%
2019
100%
2019
95%
2019
94%, 93% (cum.)†
2019
93%
2019
89%
2019
82%, 82% (cum.)†
2019
67%, 68% (cum.)†
2019
|100%
2019
|100%
2019
|95%
2019
|94%, 93% (cum.)†
2019
|93%
2019
|82%, 82% (cum.)†
2019
|67%, 68% (cum.)†
LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS
2019
24%
2019
30%, 16% (cum.)†
2019
F
2019
0%
2019
|24%
2019
|30%, 16% (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 (6)
*Grassroots America: We the People
National Rifle Association (NRA) PVF
Texas Right to Life
Texas State Rifle Association
Texas Values Action
OTHER (4)
Greg Abbott
*National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Texas
Texas Association of Realtors/TREPAC
*Texas Oil and Gas Association
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (17)
Briscoe Cain (2019)
Bryan Hughes (2018)
Chris Paddie (2013)
Cole Hefner (2016)
David Simpson (2014)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (41)
Accountability First (2014)
Action Dallas (2014)
Briscoe Cain (2018)
Cathie Adams (2014)
Cole Hefner (2013)
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (0)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (2)
International Association of Firefighters (includes national, state & local affiliates) (2013)
Texas Trial Lawyers Association (2015)
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?
None. Hypothetically, if there was a legitimate choice between the life of the mother and the life of the pre-born child (although this is exceedingly rare) then I would leave the decision to the family. Personally, my wife has told me there is no circumstance where she would choose an abortion even to save her own life, and I support her conviction.
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?
The growth of the entire federal budget must be reduced proportionally. Start with reducing every program by 1%, then limit growth every year until spending balances with revenue.
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?
Government should not establish a national or state religion. We should have freedom of religion, not freedom from religion due to government action pushing religious activity out of the public square. Persons of all faiths, or no faith at all, should be free to seek public office and hold their sincerely held religious beliefs.
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?
Health care will become much more affordable with transparency in health care pricing. Furthermore, the expansion of direct care whereby doctors are able to receive payment directly from patients without expensive 3rd parties wasting money on cumbersome insurance billing will increase coverage. The government should remove barriers between patients and doctors, and create incentives for patients to consider cost when they shop for health care.
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 Disagree
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
People should be allowed to immigrate to the United States who follow the law. This includes people seeking work and greater economic opportunity, and it includes refugees fleeing severe persecution. Those who break the law in order to enter the United States, should not be allowed to obtain legal status. All that being said, our immigration system is badly broken, and the border is not secure. The federal government needs to take action to fulfill its' constitutional responsibility to implement a just immigration system and secure our national borders.
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 Disagree
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.
My primary mission is to glorify God. My objective is to love God, and love others around me. Faith in Jesus is the only way to obtain salvation and to be made right with God. The Holy Spirit counsels us and helps us love God and convicts us of sin when we are in error. The Bible is the complete and true revelation of God to mankind. God wishes every person to be saved and come to a saving knowledge of Him through faith in Jesus.
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.
I am consistently scored one of the most conservative members of the Texas House of Representatives since 2013 based upon thousands of recorded votes.
What education or experience qualifies you to hold the office for which you seek election?
I have broad experience in the private sector, and in public service. I have served 4 terms in the Texas House of Representatives and I have passed major statewide legislation, as well as local legislation that helped the local community I serve in East Texas.
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?
Let's keep Texas, Texas! I am a liberty-minded conservative, and I want Texas to continue on a path that provides opportunity for ALL of our citizens. Stronger families, better careers, excellent education, and security for our communities is our mission.
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.
Agree
2ND AMENDMENT
Should teachers be allowed to carry guns at school?
Yes
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
We need to allow the permit-less carry of handguns, the same way permit-less carry of rifles is already legal in Texas. For example a low-income single woman under threat of violence from a violent ex-husband should be able to carry a handgun for protection without first going through expensive and time consuming licensing requirements. Existing laws that prevent criminals and mentally incompetent persons from possessing a gun should remain in place.
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?
1) Pro-life laws to protect pre-born babies. 2) Accountability in the state budget. 3) Protection of the second amendment.
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Hatred in the form of racism remains a serious problem in the United States. I believe that there are some places where racism creates a public safety and security problem.
