Blake Carpenter
Republican | Kansas
Candidate Profile*
Verified Conservative
*Additional information appears below for educational purposes; however, only data received prior to the candidate deadline was considered during Panel Evaluation.
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Blake Carpenter
Party
Republican
Election Year
2020
Election
General
Race
State Rep., Dist. 81
Incumbent
Yes
Links
EDUCATION
Halstead High School, Halstead, KS, High School Diploma, 2009
Wichita State University, Wichita, KS, BBA in Entrepreneurship, 2014
WORK & MILITARY
(Candidate did not provide)
AFFILIATIONS
Sons of the American Legion, Member, St. Mary's Derby, KS
Member, Derby Chamber of Commerce, Member
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Kansas House of Representatives, 2015-2020
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
(Candidate did not provide)
Race
Previous Races
SCORECARDS
CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS
2019-20
A+
2018
100%
2020
94%
2019
91%, 93% (cum.)â€
2018
80% (cum.)â€
2019-20
|A+
2019
|91%, 93% (cum.)â€
2018
|80% (cum.)â€
LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS
2018
40%
2019
8%, 3% (cum.)â€
2019
0%
2018
|40%
2019
|8%, 3% (cum.)â€
ENDORSEMENTS*
*These endorsements were received after the deadline and were not considered in the Panel Evaluations and are for additional educational purposes only.
CONSERVATIVE (4)
Family Policy Alliance of Kansas
Kansans for Life PAC
*National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB)
National Rifle Association (NRA) PVF
OTHER (3)
Kansas Chamber PAC
Kansas Farm Bureau
Wichita Regional Chamber PAC
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (6)
NRA-ILA: A+ Grade
Kansans for Life
Kansas Chamber of Commerce
Kansas Farm Bureau
Kansas Livestock Assoc.
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (1)
State Republican Party Organizations (2016)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE*
*Additional information was received after the evaluation was assigned and was not considered in the Panel Evaluations, therefore it is for additional educational purposes only.
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?
I believe that life begins at conception and should be protected. Every life is created for a purpose and as such, Kansas should be known not just as a state that protects life, but one that actively promotes a culture of life.
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?
All government spending need reviewed and reduced across the board.
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
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 phrase has been twisted from its original meaning.This phrase was taken from a piece of correspondence written by Thomas Jefferson on Jan. 1. 1802 and is not used in the U.S. Constitution. The intent of the phrase was that the government refrain from establishing a particular religion as a state church, similar to the Church of England. This phrase does not mean that religious institutions and values should have no place in the public square. Our country was based on Judeo-Christian foundations, and those founding principles have guided this nation and our leaders throughout history.
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?
Having a child earlier this year taught me how hard it is to navigate the healthcare system and finding out what everything is going to cost. We need transparency in healthcare and people should be allowed to see what something will cost them, before getting a massive surprise bill in their mailbox. Obamacare completely destroyed a health care system that was working for most people. Burdensome government regulations need rolled back, so we can allow the free market to compete. Government will always have a roll to play in healthcare making sure there is a safety net for the most vulnerable.
NATIONAL SECURITY
The best way to maintain peace is through a strong military.
Strongly 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.
Strongly 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 are a nation of immigrants and we all learn in middle school that America is the "melting pot" of the world. However, we still need laws that are fair to new immigrants seeking entry into our country. People who cross the border illegally should not be able to jump ahead of those in line who have already been waiting years to become citizens. Our immigration system is broken, and it is something the federal government needs to address as soon as possible.
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 follow the word of God as best I can and pray often. My Christian upbringing has given me a strong set of morals and principles that I use everyday as a husband, father, and public servant.
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.
Lifetime American Conservative Union Score: 93% Americans for Prosperity KS (AFP-KS), 2019-20: A+ National Federation of Independent Business KS (NFIB KS), 2018: 100% National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund KS (NRA-PVF-KS), 2018: 100% Kansas Policy Institute Freedom Index, 2020: 94% American Conservative Union KS (ACU-KS), 2019: 91%, 93% (cum.)†Kansas Policy Institute Lifetime Freedom Index, 2018: 80% (cum.)â€
What education or experience qualifies you to hold the office for which you seek election?
I have served in the House of Representatives for three terms. I know how the process works and have been able to get more than five bills passed during my time in the legislature. I have passed two bills Derby residents have brought to me, and I help strike a deal with a large insurance company on behalf of a constituent and a policy they were wanting.
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 believe that my record of public service in the Kansas House of Representatives shows my dedication to limited government, religious freedom, traditional values, and protecting our Constitutional rights. I would appreciate your vote this November.
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.
Strongly Agree
2ND AMENDMENT
Should teachers be allowed to carry guns at school?
Yes
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
I am against gun control. The Second Amendment is a Constitutional and fundamental right. The Second Amendment clearly states that it "Shall not be infringed" and to often we have politicians chiseling away our rights.
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?
I have more than three bills that I will be working on next session. A lot of them have been asked for by constituents so that will be the primary focus. Three things I am focused on this upcoming session are: 1. Jobs and the Economy 2. Vote to protect the Second Amendment and the life of the unborn. 3. Oppose tax increases from tax and spend politicians as we seek to fix the $1.5 billion dollar hole in the budget.
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
I believe that we are all created equal and all the same in the eyes of God. We have amazing founding documents, one of which is the Declaration of Independence and it says "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." Ben Carson once said "Our strength as a nation comes in our unity. We are the United States of America, not the divided states. And those who want to divide us are trying to divide us, and we shouldn't let them do it."
