Michael Caldwell
Republican | Georgia
Candidate Profile
Verified Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Michael Caldwell
Party
Republican
Election Year
2020
Election
Primary
Race
State Senator, Dist. 21
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA, BBA: Finance, 2010
WORK & MILITARY
Black Airplane, Managing Partner, 2017-Present
3M (Acquired Python Safety), Sales Manager / Founding Team, 2011-2017
AFFILIATIONS
Sojourn Community Church Woodstock, Community Group Leader, Member, Cherokee County Republican Party
Member, The Hope Box, Member, Board of Directors
Elm Street Cultural Arts Village, Donor/Supporter/Spouse of President of the Board, Georgia Life Alliance
Donor/Supporter, Family Policy Alliance, Donor/Supporter
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Georgia State Representative, 2013-2020
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
(Candidate did not provide)
Race
SCORECARDS
CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS
2019
88%
2018
86%
2019
81%, 84% (cum.)†
2019
|88%
2019
|81%, 84% (cum.)†
LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS
ENDORSEMENTS
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (6)
Erick Erickson (@EWErickson)
State Senator Bruce Thompson (@BruceThompsonGA)
State Rep. Scot Turner (@Scot23)
State Rep. Wes Cantrell (@wcantrell)
Mayor and Full Council of Woodstock, GA
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (5)
Clay Pirkle (2015)
Marco Rubio (2016)
Mathew Levi "Matt" Gurtler (2018)
Nathan Deal (200 )
State Republican Party Organizations (2018)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (6)
Bill Werkheiser (2020)
Clay Pirkle (2020)
Ken Pullin (2020)
Steve Tarvin (2020)
Timothy Barr (2020)
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (0)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (1)
Georgia Trial Lawyers Association (2018)
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?
The life of the unborn should be protected in all cases. Exceptions should only be allowed in cases which threaten the life of the mother.
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
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
We have adopted a balanced budget in Georgia for all 8 years I have served in Georgia's General Assembly as is constitutionally required. Government spending and the size of government in general should always be as small as possible.
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.
Neutral
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?
The concept of "separation of church and state" exists to protect the church from an overreaching state, not the other way around.
HEALTHCARE
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has health insurance.
Strongly Disagree
How would you promote healthcare coverage that is adequate, affordable and accessible for all?
By removing red tape and regulations on medical providers, renewing free-market principles in the healthcare system and ensuring transparency for consumers we'll drive costs down and availability up.
NATIONAL SECURITY
The best way to maintain peace is through a strong military.
Agree
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.
Agree
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
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
We should have a clear, straight-forward legal process for any and all in the world who wish to become Americans, earn their keep and pass this Great American Experiment down to our next generation to have a viable pathway for immigration.
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.
Disagree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I believe in a good God who created everything. He desires a direct personal relationship with every individual human being and sacrificed His Son for the sake of making that relationship possible.
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.
Conservative.org (the American Conservative Union) rates my lifetime voting record as one of the 5 highest in Georgia's House or Senate (236 legislators).
What education or experience qualifies you to hold the office for which you seek election?
I believe that my eight years of service in the Georgia House of Representatives and voting record (rated one of the five most Conservative members of the legislature) as well as my private sector background starting and running companies and creating jobs for real Georgians qualifies me well for service in our upper chamber.
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
Never.
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you?
I am the only candidate in this race who supports term limits. I am the only candidate in this race who owns a business. I am the only candidate in this race who has never accepted money from a lobbyist. I am the only candidate in this race who has never accepted money from out of state. I am the only candidate in this race who discloses all campaign financial activity. I am the only candidate in this race who has always maintained an A record with the NRA. I proudly voted for the heartbeat bill. I proudly voted to reduce the income tax. I have authored legislation which repealed more obsolete law in Georgia than any legislator in recent history.
JUDICIAL PHILOSOPHY
I support the use of Sharia law as a basis for legislation and judicial decisions in the United States.
Strongly Disagree
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Mandatory minimum sentencing should be required and enforced for violent crimes.
Disagree
2ND AMENDMENT
Should teachers be allowed to carry guns at school?
Yes
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
Gun ownership for law-abiding citizens should come with as few restrictions as possible. That's why I support Constitutional Carry, the idea that the state should not restrict law-abiding citizens from exercising their constitutional right without a state license.
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
I support the legalization of recreational marijuana.
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?
(1) Term Limits for State Legislators (2) Removing red-tape and regulations on entrepreneurs (3) Government transparency measures
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Racism, anywhere it exists in the world, is a threat to all people and should be stamped out.
