Andy Coleman
Republican | Oklahoma
Candidate Profile
Verified Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Andy Coleman
Party
Republican
Election Year
2018
Election
Primary
Race
U.S. Rep., Dist. 1
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, B.S., 2002
University of Kansas, Lawrence, J.D., 2010
WORK & MILITARY
U.S. Air Force, Captain, 1998-2010
Shook, Hardy & Bacon, Associate, 2010-11
Voice of the Martyrs, USA, Regional Director, Mid-East, 2011-17
AFFILIATIONS
Christian Legal Society, Student Chapter President, Federalist Society
Student Chapter Officer, Alliance Defending Freedom, Blackstone Fellow
Kansas Law Review, Note & Comment Editor, Hillcrest Transitional Housing
Board Member, First Baptist Church, Owasso, Missions Committee Member
National Rifle Association, Member, Veterans of Foreign Wars
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
None
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
None
ENDORSEMENTS
CONSERVATIVE (8)
Combat Veterans For Congress
Government is Not God PAC
Rep. Jim Jordan
Madison Project
Mark Meadows
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (6)
U.S. Senator Rick Santorum (Retired)
U.S. Congressman Jim Jordan
U.S. Congressman Mark Meadows
Dr. Everett Piper
Combat Veterans for Congress
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (0)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (7)
Andrew Harris
Brian Babin
Free State PAC
Government Is Not God PAC
Madison Project
QUESTIONNAIRE
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
Human life begins at conception and deserves legal protection at every stage until natural death.
Strongly Agree
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
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
It is the government’s responsibility to be sure everyone has a livable income.
Strongly Disagree
It is the government’s responsibility to be sure everyone has health insurance.
Strongly Disagree
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which permitted our system of limited government.
Strongly Agree
More restrictive gun control is needed to protect public safety.
Strongly Disagree
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
Additional regulations are needed to prevent climate change.
Strongly Disagree
Religious liberty is at risk in the United States and deserves the highest level of protection in the law.
Strongly Agree
The United States should help defend Israel from attack by its enemies.
Strongly Agree
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments.
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
Congress should pass a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution.
Strongly Agree
People should be allowed to use public restrooms, showers, and changing rooms based on "gender identity."
Strongly Disagree
I support sanctuary cities.
Strongly Disagree
It is OK for Congress to exempt itself from compliance with laws applicable to all citizens.
Strongly Disagree
I support the death penalty.
Strongly Agree
Tuition-free public education should be guaranteed through college.
Strongly Disagree
The United States should protect its sovereignty from the United Nations.
Strongly Agree
The best way to maintain peace is through a strong military.
Strongly Agree
I voted in these primaries and general elections:
2010 General Election, 2010 Republican Primary, 2012 General Election, 2014 General Election, 2016 General Election, 2016 Republican Primary
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
Under no circumstances.
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of radical Islamic terrorism?
Americans need to elect more leaders with experience confronting radical Islamic terror and working in the Muslim World. As a former military intelligence officer in the Middle East, my experience runs deep. And as the Middle East Regional Director for the Voice of the Martyrs, I've spent up to 100 days a year throughout the Muslim World - for six years - working to help Christians persecuted by Islamic radicals. My background in these countries may be more extensive than anyone in the U.S. House and U.S. Senate today. I will take a firm stand against incremental efforts by radical groups to undermine our society, particularly attempts to accommodate Sharia Law. I will fight to see groups like the Muslim Brotherhood and CAIR designated as terrorist organizations. And I will work for immigration reforms - to secure our borders and eliminate the diversity lottery system.
What in the nature of mankind caused America’s Founders to carefully define, separate, and limit powers in the Constitution?
Armed with a biblical worldview, our Founders recognized that mankind was fallen. Power, especially, tended to corrupt, and rulers consistently expanded their power. These power grabs dislodged the freedoms of the governed. To prevent this, our Founders brilliantly crafted a government that answered to the people. It limited and spliced power – horizontally among the branches – and vertically, among the nation and states. Pitting power against itself protected the people and their liberty.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I believe in the Holy, triune God of the Bible. As a sinner, I have been reconciled to God through Jesus Christ, the Messiah, and His life, death, and resurrection. Man is made in the image of God, and is therefore inherently valuable. Accordingly, I believe that all human life - both born and unborn - is worthy of dignity and protection. I take the role of stewardship seriously - in my spiritual walk, in my family, and as an American. We must steward our resources well for future generations, and those resources include our freedoms, economy, security, and citizens.
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 a battle-tested, full-spectrum, pro-gun, pro-life conservative. I am not new to the policy arena. Throughout my life, I have stood up for what I believe and backed it up with action - even extremely risky action. Dating back more than a decade, I have served with conservative policy organizations because of my concerns for America. I served as the president of my school's Christian Legal Society, even on a liberal campus. I served as an officer for my school's Federalist Society chapter, a conservative group that defends the Constitution, the principles of limited government, and the free market. I also became a Blackstone Fellow with the Alliance Defending Freedom, a Christian conservative legal group that stands up unapologetically for the sanctity of life, our religious liberty, and free speech rights. I am a conservative today because conservative policies are the best policies for people.
How would you promote healthcare coverage that is adequate, affordable and accessible for all?
I would promote better healthcare for all by stripping out as much government as possible from between patients and their providers. I believe the free market will deliver better results for American families. Increased transparency and competition will decrease healthcare costs while increasing healthcare quality. Competition will also lead to continued innovation and tailored customer service.
What role should government play in boosting the economy?
The government's role in boosting the economy should be limited to facilitating a healthy, free market that fosters growth, innovation, and job creation. This climate would be free of both excessive regulations and taxes, which place undue burdens on job creators, especially small businesses. I do not believe the government should be in the business of picking economic winners or losers, and crony capitalism hurts our communities. I also believe free trade and reduced trade barriers will deliver net gains to America's economy.
What changes should be made to the tax code?
I am grateful for the tax reforms President Trump championed last December. The flatter, simpler, and more transparent the code, the better. Any and all efforts to that end should be pursued.
What is the best way to bring down unemployment?
To effectively reduce unemployment, we must foster a pro-business environment that actually creates jobs. We must also reduce the size and scope of government. Specifically, we must continue to repeal unnecessary regulations that drive up costs, stifle investment, frustrate growth, stunt job creation, and bury businesses - particularly small business - in bureaucratic red tape. We must also avoid government policies that reduce the rewards for working. Increased job creation occurs when communities flourish, and communities flourish when government stays in its narrow lane.
How would you guarantee Social Security benefits for future generations?
Shoring up Social Security for future generations will require systematic changes. I believe my generation should lead the charge - and shoulder much of the burden - to this end, not those at or near retirement age. For working Americans with time to plan and adjust, we should gradually and predictably increase the early and full retirement ages to 65 and 70, and index both to life expectancy increases. Benefits should also be placed on a schedule to gradually arrive at a flat payment structure. And we should phase in reforms so that benefits are eventually limited to those who need it.
What education or experience qualifies you to hold the office for which you seek election?
An Air Force Academy graduate, I am the only veteran in my race. I am the only candidate in my race with national security experience - as a former intelligence officer, it's deep. I am the only one in my race with experience in the Muslim World. In fact, I may have more such experience than any in the U.S. House and Senate today. My background is in scant supply in Congress, and is sorely needed. My background extends beyond security and foreign policy. As a cadet, I majored in Political Science, attaining a layered understanding of our government, which was complemented later by my time with the CLS, Federalist Society, and ADF. As an intelligence officer, I also tracked economic issues. A governmental and economic background is valuable in this role. Finally, I oversaw extensive, complex project portfolios for VOM. I took risks to verify projects, examine finances and prevent fraud. We need more oversight and stewardship experience in Congress.
E-mail address and phone number for voters to reach you:
andy@andycoleman.org. 918-973-1945.
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you?
My wife Liz and I married shortly after I graduated from the Air Force Academy, and God has blessed us with three amazing kiddos. I deeply believe our Founders intended for Citizen Legislators - not Career Politicians - to represent our communities in Congress. I believe this so strongly that I'm the only candidate in my race leading by example on Term Limits. If elected, I will do everything I can to represent my constituents - not my own career - with excellence, but only for four terms. And in making decisions on their behalf, I will consider five factors before voting: 1) How does this align with my Christian faith; 2) Is this constitutional; 3) Is this needed; 4) Can we afford this, and 5) What is the long-term impact of this decision? This is the type of thoughtful leadership I want representing my family in Congress. If you agree, I would ask for your vote, support, and prayers.
