
Matt Rinaldi
Republican | Texas
Candidate Profile
Verified Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Matt Rinaldi
Party
Republican
Election Year
2018
Election
General
Race
State Rep., Dist. 115
Incumbent
Yes
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-present
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
District Judge, 191st District Court, 2010
Race
Previous Races
SCORECARDS
CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS
2017
100%
2017
100%
2017
100%
2017
100%
2017
95%
2017
|100%
2017
|100%
2017
|100%
2017
|95%
LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS
ENDORSEMENTS
CONSERVATIVE (10)
Grassroots America
Lone Star Liberty
National Rifle Association PVF
Texans for Fiscal Responsibility
Texas Conservative Digest
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (6)
Texas Right to Life
Texans for Fiscal Responsibility
Texas Values
National Rifle Association
Texas Home School Coalition
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (16)
Bob Hall
Bryan Hughes
Conservative Republicans of Texas
Empower Texans
Jared Patterson
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (29)
Accountability First
American Majority Action
Cathie Adams
David Simpson
Don Huffines
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?
Only when necessary to prevent the death of the mother.
ECONOMY
It is the government’s responsibility to be sure 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
The state constitution should limit the growth of spending to the rate of population growth plus the rate of inflation.
Strongly Agree
Congress should pass a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution.
Strongly Agree
What is the best way to bring down unemployment?
The best way to bring down unemployment is to keep taxes and spending low, reduce regulations and barriers to entry, and to empower individuals and businesses and let the free market function free of government interference.
What role should government play in boosting the economy?
The government should not seek to micromanage business cycles, but should instead ensure long term prosperity by keeping taxes and regulations to a minimum.
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
HEALTHCARE
It is the government’s responsibility to be sure everyone has health insurance.
Strongly Disagree
How would you promote healthcare coverage that is adequate, affordable and accessible for all?
I would deregulate the healthcare industry and allow insurance to be sold and purchased as any other consumer product. Existing government programs for lower income individuals should be reformed to include minimal copayments and coinsurance to reduce demand and lower the price of medical care by ensuring those purchasing medical care bear some of the cost.
NATIONAL SECURITY
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
Islamic law (Sharia) should take precedence over national and state laws where there are Islamic majority communities in the U. S.
Strongly Disagree
I support sanctuary cities.
Strongly Disagree
The best way to maintain peace is through a strong military.
Strongly Agree
EDUCATION
Tuition-free public education should be guaranteed through college.
Strongly Disagree
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which permitted our system of limited government.
Strongly Agree
Any teaching to children on sex education in public schools must include all contraceptive methods, and should not show preference to abstinence.
Strongly Disagree
People should be allowed to use public restrooms, showers, and changing rooms based on "gender identity."
Strongly Disagree
Parents should be the primary authority in decisions affecting their minor children.
Strongly Agree
What in the nature of mankind caused America’s Founders to carefully define, separate, and limit powers in the Constitution?
The sinful nature of man, or, more specifically, mankind's selfish nature and the corrupting influence of power.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior and I strive to live my life by the Word of God.
ABOUT YOU
I support using a party caucus to nominate my party's candidate for Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, and I pledge to vote for my party's nominee.
Yes
I voted in these primaries and general elections:
2010 General Election, 2010 Republican Primary, 2012 General Election, 2012 Republican Primary, 2014 General Election, 2014 Republican Primary, 2016 General Election, 2016 Republican Primary
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 voting record and public actions in the legislature are the best evidence of my conservative principles. I have served two terms in the legislature and have consistently been ranked as one of the most, and frequently THE most, conservative member by the Rice University rankings, as well as respected conservative organizations such as Texans for Fiscal Responsibility, Texas Values, Texas Right to Life, and Young Conservatives of Texas, among others. I was a founding member of the Texas House Freedom Caucus and successfully passed numerous conservative priorities into law, including the strongest bill in the country banning sanctuary cities, adding an amendment that would remove officeholders who adopt sanctuary policies, and what Planned Parenthood itself labeled the strongest measure in the country banning taxpayer funding of abortion providers and their affiliates.
What education or experience qualifies you to hold the office for which you seek election?
I have degrees in law and economics with honors, have been a practicing attorney for nearly 17 years, and have served two very successful terms in the Texas Legislature, where I have spearheaded our most significant conservative victories during that time, such as the sanctuary city ban, the dismemberment abortion ban, defunding Planned Parenthood, and ensuring churches have the freedom to arm and protect themselves from those wishing to do harm.
E-mail address and phone number for voters to reach you:
matt@mattrinaldi.com
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you?
I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the citizens of Texas and will continue to be one of the strongest voices in government for the protection of life, limited government, lower taxes, strong immigration enforcement, educational quality and choice, and religious liberty.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
I support the death penalty.
Strongly Agree
Mandatory minimum sentencing should be required and enforced for violent crimes.
Strongly Agree
2ND AMENDMENT
More restrictive gun control is needed to protect public safety.
Strongly Disagree
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
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