Steve Watkins
Republican | Kansas
Candidate Profile*
Conservative
*Additional information appears below for educational purposes; however, only data received prior to the candidate deadline was considered during Panel Evaluation.
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Steve Watkins
Party
Republican
Election Year
2020
Election
Primary
Race
U.S. Rep., Dist. 2
Incumbent
Yes
Links
EDUCATION
United States Military Academy, West Point, NY, BS, 1999
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, MSRED, 2011
Harvard, Cambridge, MA, MCMPA, 2017
WORK & MILITARY
US Army, Captain, 1995-2005
AFFILIATIONS
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), American Legion
Topeka First United Methodist Church
Pachyderm Club
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
U.S. Congressman (KS-02), 2 Years
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
(Candidate did not provide)
Race
SCORECARDS
CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS
2019-20
100%
2019-20
100%
2020
A
2019
99%
2019-20
98%, 98% (cum.)†
2019
95%
2020
92%
2019
91%, 91% (cum.)†
2019
90%, 90% (cum.)†
2019
86%, 86% (cum.)†
2019
B+
2019
81% (cum.)†
2019-20
77%, 73% (cum.)†
2019
67% (cum.)†
2019-20
|100%
2019-20
|100%
2019
|99%
2019-20
|98%, 98% (cum.)†
2019
|95%
2020
|92%
2019
|91%, 91% (cum.)†
2019
|90%, 90% (cum.)†
2019
|86%, 86% (cum.)†
2019
|B+
2019
|81% (cum.)†
2019-20
|77%, 73% (cum.)†
2019
|67% (cum.)†
LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS
2019
20%, 20% (cum.)†
2019-20
20%
2019
0%
2019
0% (cum.)†
2019
0%
2019
F
2019
|20%, 20% (cum.)†
2019-20
|20%
2019
|0% (cum.)†
2019
|0%
2019
|F
ENDORSEMENTS*
*These endorsements were received after the deadline and were not considered in the Panel Evaluations and are for additional educational purposes only.
CONSERVATIVE (5)
Kansans for Life PAC
*National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB)
*National Rifle Association (NRA) PVF
National Right To Life
The Guardian Fund
OTHER (1)
Associated General Contractors of America Political Action Committee
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (18)
Ann Wagner (2019)
Brian Fitzpatrick (2019)
Daniel (Dan) Bishop (2019)
Don Bacon (2019)
Frederick Stephen "Fred" Upton (2019)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (105)
Allen West Guardian Fund (2018)
Andrew Harris (2018)
Ann PAC (2019)
Austin Scott (2018)
Ben Cline (2019)
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (0)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (4)
Airline Pilots Association (2019)
American Postal Workers Union (2019)
American Wind Energy Association (2019)
National Air Traffic Controllers Association (2019)
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
I support the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, which requires health care providers to provide life-saving treatment for infants who survive an attempted abortion.
Strongly Agree
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
Under no circumstances should abortion be allowed.
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
How would you guarantee Social Security benefits for future generations?
We cannot turn our backs on the millions of seniors enrolled in Social Security or Medicare programs. Seniors in Kansas who have spent their entire lives contributing to these programs and our nation’s economy deserve to know their hard work will help them retire. In order to save these programs and protect our seniors here in Kansas, one must be willing to work across the aisle to find solutions that will save and secure these programs for our children and grandchildren, as well as for our parents and grandparents. I fully recognize the need to preserve Social Security and Medicare and I will do what is necessary to ensure all seniors in Kansas’ 2nd Congressional District will have access to the benefits and resources they deserve.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
I would cut all funding to Planned Parenthood, the Kennedy Center, and unnecessary causes. Our spending is out of control and our national debt is going to be the burden of our children and grand children.
Under what circumstances should taxpayers help pay off existing student loans?
As someone with college loans, I'd love if everyone would pay them off for me. However, I believe in personal responsibility and I think if you made the decision to go to college you should have to pay the price.
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
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?
It means that the constitution is the law of the land. Although my religion guides my decision making we ultimately must make laws based off how the founding fathers intended this country to operate.
HEALTHCARE
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has health insurance.
Strongly Disagree
I support the elimination of private healthcare insurance.
Strongly Disagree
How would you promote healthcare coverage that is adequate, affordable and accessible for all?
In my first term in Congress I co-sponsored ECORA an act which provided loan assistance to doctors who did their residencies in rural facilities, making quality care more accessible to many in the 2nd district. I will fight to ensure private health care is protected and medicare for all is never enacted.
NATIONAL SECURITY
The best way to maintain peace is through a strong military.
Strongly Agree
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of radical Islamic terrorism?
Our military men and women are fighting all across the globe to defend our freedoms and preserve our American way of life. Here at home, it is critically important that our Federal Government recognizes the current threats facing our nation and the threats of our future. We should face the enemy head on much like President Trump has with removing enemies like al-Baghdadi and General Soleimani.
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
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) should be abolished.
Strongly Disagree
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 Agree
Employers should be required to use E-verify to confirm the eligibility of their employees to work in the United States.
Strongly Agree
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
Securing our southern border is paramount to our national security. Security at our borders and ports of entry must be strengthened and enhanced. We are a nation of laws, follow those laws and we will welcome anyone with open arms. We need an immigration system that allows our businesses and entrepreneurs to have access to the workforce they need, and ensures that our nation receives the best individuals. If you come legally and follow our our laws you should be able to immigrate here.
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
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a pro-life Christian. I believe life begins at conception and I will do anything in my power to ensure that man is unable to harm God's creatures, man and animals alike.
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.
Heritage Action Scorecard says I vote 98% of the time with the Republican Party. I am also a Club For Growth 2019 winner of their Defender of Economic Freedom award. https://heritageaction.com/scorecard/members/W000824/116 https://www.clubforgrowth.org/scorecards/legislator/W000824/Steve-Watkins/
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?
I have the most Pro-Life endorsements in this race. President Trump chose me to be an Honorary Co-Chair of his re-election campaign. We are both political outsiders fighting to return to Washington to drain the swamp and are committed to making America great. I would appreciate your vote on August 4th.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Mandatory minimum sentencing should be required and enforced for violent crimes.
Did not answer
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
None, guns are not the cause of deaths and mass shootings, it is mental health issues and societal problems which need to be addressed at the community level.
iVoterGuide Notes:
Candidate received an A rating from the NRA Political Victory Fund KS in 2020. https://www.nrapvf.org/grades/kansas/
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
I support BDS (boycott, divestment, and sanction) against Israel if they refuse to allow the creation of a Palestinian state.
Strongly Disagree
I support the legalization of recreational marijuana.
Did not answer
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
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?
I plan to work in 3 areas: 1) Rural Revitalization 2) Pro-Life issues 3) Lower Taxes
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
I think that every American has the 1st Amendment right to assemble and protest their government if they feel they or their race are being treated unfairly. What is a threat to our domestic security is rioters and looters destroying our cities and legislators attempting to defeund the very police officers that are trying to stop it.
