Matt Rinaldi

Republican | Texas

Candidate Profile

Verified Conservative

BIOGRAPHY

Name

Matt Rinaldi


Party

Republican


Election Year

2016


Election

General


Race

State Rep., Dist. 115


Incumbent

Yes


Links

Matt Rinaldi websites FacebookX

EDUCATION

Boston University School of Law, Boston, MA, J.D., 2001

James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA, B.B.A., Economics, 1997

WORK & MILITARY

(Candidate did not provide)

AFFILIATIONS

St. Ann Catholic Parish, Member / Volunteer, Knights of Columbus

Member, Rotary Club of Dallas, Chairman, Ambassadorial Scholarship Committee

Greater Irving Republican Club, VP - Programs, Federalist Society

Member, National Rifle Association, Member

Texas State Rifle Association, Member, Northwest Dallas Tea Party Coalition

POLITICAL OFFICES HELD

State Rep., Dist. 115, 2015-2016

POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT

State Representative, District 115, 2012

District Judge, 191st District Court, 2010

Race

Previous Races

SCORECARDS

CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS


LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS

ENDORSEMENTS

CONSERVATIVE (10)

Cathie Adams

David Barton

Empower Texans

National Rifle Association

Texans for Fiscal Responsibility

REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (6)

Texans for Fiscal Responsibility

Young Conservatives of Texas

Texas Right to Life

Cathie Adams

National Rifle Association

SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS

CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (10)

Bryan Hughes

Conservative Republicans of Texas

Fred D. Thompson PAC

John Keating

Local, County, and District Republican Organizations

RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (22)

Accountability First

American Majority Action

Associated Builders and Contractors

Cathie Adams

David Simpson


OTHER INFORMATION

QUESTIONNAIRE

OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES

Congress should repeal the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).

Strongly Agree

Election of judges by the people for a definite term of office is the best way to select judges.

Strongly Agree

More restrictive gun control laws are needed to protect public safety.

Strongly Disagree

Government should enforce laws designed to protect the border and to prevent illegal entry into the country.

Strongly Agree

People should be able to vote without photo identification.

Strongly Disagree

Religious liberty is at risk in the United States.

Strongly Agree

Human life begins at conception and deserves legal protection at every stage until natural death.

Strongly Agree

Free enterprise and the right to private property turn mankind's natural self-interest into the most productive economic system there is.

Strongly Agree

There should be a strict constitutional spending limit for state and local governments that would tie the rate of spending to the rate of population growth plus the rate of inflation.

Strongly Agree

Marijuana should be legalized and regulated like tobacco and alcohol.

Strongly Disagree

Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which permitted our system of limited government.

Strongly Agree

The founders established pure democracy in the Constitution because they believed that it is the best form of government to ensure the safety and equitable treatment of all citizens.

Strongly Disagree

Free-market competition for education dollars, rather than a government monopoly, would create a better education for all students.

Strongly Agree

Where minor children are involved, divorce laws should be reformed to include mutual consent of both parents and an increased waiting period, unless there is fault or abuse.

Strongly Agree

The Ten Commandments should not be displayed in public school buildings.

Strongly Disagree

Business owners should be required by law to bake cakes, provide flower arrangements, etc., for same-sex weddings, even when these activities would infringe on their sincerely-held religious beliefs.

Strongly Disagree

Our state should participate in the nationwide Common Core standards for high-school graduation.

Strongly Disagree

Physician-assisted suicide should be legal.

Strongly Disagree

The more people live by Judeo-Christian values, the less government is needed.

Strongly Agree

Islamic law (Sharia) does not pose a threat to the United States and its Constitution.

Strongly Disagree

Governments should define marriage as between one man and one woman; no other definition of marriage should be legalized or supported with public funds.

Strongly Agree

It is the government’s responsibility to be sure everyone has health care and a livable income.

Strongly Disagree

Planned Parenthood should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments.

Strongly Agree

What in the nature of mankind caused America’s Founders to carefully define, separate, and limit powers in the Constitution?

The inherently sinful nature of mankind caused the Founders to carefully define, separate, and limit powers. As James Madison states in the Federalist Papers (No. 51), "Ambition must be made to counteract ambition."

Based on the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, please arrange the following entities, starting with the highest source of authority, and continue the list in descending order of authority, skipping any that do not apply: Academia, Congress, Constitution, God, Industry, Media, Professional Sports, Supreme Court, Voters.

God, Constitution, Voters, Congress, Supreme Court

Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?

Only to save the life of the mother.

Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.

Jesus Christ is my personal Lord and Savior and I strive to live my life by the Word of God in all my actions and deeds.

Considering all issues (social, economic, national security, etc.), which of these best describes you?

Very Conservative

Please defend your answer to the previous question by referencing your publicly available track record.

My legislative record has proven I am a strong advocate for limited government, pro-liberty and free market policies, secure borders, competition in education, Second Amendment rights, and the protection of life. A 2015 Rice University study of over 1,000 record votes ranked me as the #1 most conservative legislator in the 150-member Texas House. I was also the highest-ranked legislator in 2015 by several statewide conservative groups, including Texas Eagle Forum and Texans for Fiscal Responsibility. I was named a "Faith and Family Champion" by Texas Values. For my work in defending life, I received the "Pro-Life Freshman of the 84th Session" award by Texas Right to Life.

E-mail address and phone number for voters to reach you.

matt@mattrinaldi.com

Additional comment from candidate:

I promised I would fight for conservative principles and that’s exactly what I did. I was ranked the most conservative legislator in the Texas House and fought to shrink government, fight illegal immigration and protect individual liberty. I want to continue to be District 115's principled voice in Austin.

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