Raul Torres
Republican | Texas
Candidate Profile
Leans Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Raul Torres
Party
Republican
Election Year
2022
Election
Primary
Race
State Senator, Dist. 27
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Texas A&M University- Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, TX, MBA, 1994
WORK & MILITARY
(Candidate did not provide)
AFFILIATIONS
Church of Christ, Christian
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Texas State Representative, 2
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Texas Senate, 2012
Texas State Comptroller, 2014
Race
Previous Races
SCORECARDS
CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS
2012
102%
2012
68%
2012
62%
2012
C
2012
36%
2012
|102%
2012
|68%
2012
|62%
2012
|36%
LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (7)
Empower Texans (2010)
Local, County, and District Republican Organizations (2012)
National Federation of Republican Assemblies (2007)
Republican National Hispanic Assembly (2020)
Republican Women's Organizations (2013)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (21)
American Legislative Exchange Council (2012)
Cathie Adams (2008)
Conservative Republicans of Texas (2012)
David Medina (2012)
Empower Texans (2008)
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (1)
League of United Latin American Citizens (2012)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (1)
National Association of Latino Elected Officials Educational Fund (2012)
OTHER INFORMATION
Candidate completed the Abolish Abortion Texas Candidate Survey source
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
Rape or incest
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Agree
Since abortion is a personal choice and since many taxpayers are in disagreement as to the practice of abortion in American, therefore it only makes sense that taxpayer's dollars should not used to pay for a personal choice expense such as abortion.
I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Strongly Disagree
ECONOMY
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
I like the idea of the fair tax because it eliminates the complexity of the IRS tax regulations that are often established to create confusion and are often used as a political tool to win elections. It eliminates having to file a tax return. It incentivizes saving and investing. It reduces the purposeful intent to defraud the government and it; implementation predicts it will boost the economy.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
I believe there is a significant amount of wasteful spending in every level of government local, state, and federal budgets. I believe all government entities should implement Lean Six Sigma into the operations to eliminate wasteful spending and all levels of government should adopt priority-based budgeting.
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Strongly Disagree
It has been clearly proven that not all children are interested in pursuing a college degree and therefore, since going to college is a personal choice,a taxpayer-funded public education should not be guaranteed through college. It will only incentivize university presidents to increase enrollments without any incentive to actually graduate students.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
I believe that our religious freedom guaranteed to us under our U.S. Consitution extends to all personal choices we make
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
Under no circumstances should churches be forced to close.
HEALTHCARE
What most closely matches your view on healthcare: A) Healthcare for all should be guaranteed and funded by the government with no private healthcare option. (includes "universal healthcare," "medicare for all," etc.) B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options. C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. D)Tax-payer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be de-funded.
At this time I believe that option C) is the way to go in the short term.
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
Under no circumstances should the government require vaccination without individual consent.
NATIONAL SECURITY
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
The Unites States government should remain diligent and proactive in it's war against terror.
I support the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement to pressure Israel to withdraw from occupied territories, remove the separation barrier in the West Bank, allow full equality for Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel, and promote the rights of Palestinian refugees.
Strongly Disagree
This statement is Israel's death sentence. Every nation has a right to protect its citizens against harm, both foreign and domestic. The territory in question acts as a bugger zone in Israel's defense of its nation.
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Did not answer
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
Did not answer
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Strongly Agree
I support adding gender identity as a specially protected class in non-discrimination laws.
Strongly Disagree
Follow the science and the answer is obvious. A man is a man because of his genetic makeup, not because of any feelings or emotions he may have for the moment.
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Strongly Disagree
The whole CRT movement is an attempt to destroy the huge advances the United States has made in national race relations since its founding over 200 years ago.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a born-again Christian. I believe in the Trinty of the Godhead. God is three persons: The Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit. I believe that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas,[b] and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles and I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
A photo ID helps add assurance in having fair and honest elections.
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
There is much improvement that is needed in the area of mail-in ballots, especially ballots that are mailed in by our military personnel that lives outside their home counties and communities. America needs a proven method to vote via the internet, especially for military personnel.
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
No, it is not. But BLM movement is a threat to domestic security in the United States.
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Strongly Disagree
Slavery occurred over 150 years ago. There is no one alive from those days.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Which comes closest to your view? A) Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy. B) Stricter environmental laws and regulations are worth the cost.
Anwer A) comes closest to my view.
I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.
Strongly Agree
Energy independence is a national security issue. Either we become energy independent or we allow other countries to hold us hostage for our energy needs.
ABOUT YOU
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
The government's primary purpose is to establish justice, insure domestic tranquility by keeping the communities safe, provide a military force to protect the nation against other nations, and secure the blessings to ourselves and our posterity of which are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. Promote the general welfare (improve people’s lives)
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?
Conservative
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
Did not answer
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized in either civil or criminal court for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
No
What else would you like voters to know about you, including your legislative priorities?
It is time that We the People secure by taking back the rights of governance away from the career politicians.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Police officers should be personally immune from prosecution for conduct consistent with departmental policy (qualified immunity) while on duty.
Agree
This should be the standard, but the final say should be evaluated by a grand jury.
I support redirecting funds from police departments to mental health and community programs.
Strongly Disagree
The statement is like asking a farmer if he should allow the wolf to act as the guard to the hen house. This is foolishness.
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
We have all the laws we need to protect the public.
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Strongly Disagree
I do not believe that guns kill people just as I do not believe that a knife kills people. It is people that kill people.
