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


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-present

POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT

District Judge, 191st District Court, 2010

Race

Previous Races

SCORECARDS

CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS


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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