Jay Lawrence
Republican | Arizona
Candidate Profile
Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Jay Lawrence
Party
Republican
Election Year
2020
Election
Primary
Race
State Rep., Dist. 23
Incumbent
Yes
Links
EDUCATION
(Candidate did not provide)
WORK & MILITARY
US Air Force, Airman 1st Class & Weather Analyst, 4
AFFILIATIONS
(Candidate did not provide)
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
State Representative, 6
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
(Candidate did not provide)
SCORECARDS
CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS
LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS
ENDORSEMENTS
CONSERVATIVE (6)
Andy Biggs; Arizona Republican Assembly; Center for Arizona Policy Action (CAP Action); David Schweikert; Debbie Lesko
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (3)
John Kavanagh (2014); Local, County, and District Republican Organizations (2019); Republican Women's Organizations (2014)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (4)
American Legislative Exchange Council (2016); Arizona Leadership Fund (2018); Arizonans for Stronger Universities (2020); Joe Arpaio (2020)
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (0)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (2)
International Association of Firefighters (includes national, state & local affiliates) (2020); United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (2018)
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?
To protect the life of the mother
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 same thing it meant to our founders -- the state (the government) must not interfere with the function of the church(es).
NATIONAL SECURITY
The best way to maintain peace is through a strong military.
Strongly Agree
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?
I favor free-market reforms and trust the free market to meet the needs of the consumers and to provide the new medicines and procedures we need. The problem occurs when the government interferes and tries to force outcomes that impede the proper actions of both consumers and providers.
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?
Our budget is already balanced so this question is likely intended for federal candidates? They could learn from us here in Arizona though!
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?
At this moment it should be largely curtailed until we get Americans back to work. After that, a priority should be placed on those who will add to the great American story and make a net positive contribution to our nation. Those who would simply be a drain or who come without the intention of earning their way should be excluded, so they do not take the spot of someone who is coming for the right reasons.
EDUCATION
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
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 wouldn't do anything to alter our gun laws here in Arizona. We're ranked as the best in the country for good reason!
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
I support the legalization of recreational marijuana.
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?
With the economic damage from the Covid-19 shutdown, getting Arizona back on its feet and Arizona back to work has to be the first priority. Looking after our healthcare will be well deserved and it will be important that we prepare it for future outbreaks of this or similar crises. As always, taking care of our first responders and our veterans will be a personal priority for me.
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
A threat? No, it isn't a threat. And as much as the media seeks to magnify its occurrence, our nation has made tremendous progress in this area. There will always be people who succumb to the evil temptation of hating those who are different from themselves, and race will always be one of the ways that that difference will be obvious, but overall there is no doubt that society is moving past racism in a way that should be applauded.
JUDICIAL PHILOSOPHY
I support the use of Sharia law as a basis for legislation and judicial decisions in the United States.
Strongly Disagree
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.
Oh my goodness, there are websites I suppose where our voting records are recorded and analyzed and I've won awards from a lot of conservative groups, so I'd point you toward Friend of the Family awards from the Arizona Family Project and similar awards from pro-life, pro-2nd Amendment, pro-taxpayer groups as well.
What education or experience qualifies you to hold the office for which you seek election?
Here in Arizona, we prefer citizen legislators who bring real-world experience to the job. Between my lifetime of work and the years I have already served, I hope I bring just the right mix to my work. My conservative values and a lifetime of seeing socialism and liberalism fail all over the world serves as an adequate reminder of why it is important that we do things right.
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?
In Arizona, voters get to vote for TWO State Representatives per district. I have worked really well with Representative John Kavanagh and while we face a third opponent who is targeting us because of our conservative views and records, voters get to vote for both John AND me and get two committed Christian conservatives to represent them.
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.
John 3:16 - what more is there to say...
