David Cook

Republican | Texas

Candidate Profile*

Leans Conservative

*Additional information appears below for educational purposes; however, only data received prior to the candidate deadline was considered during Panel Evaluation.

BIOGRAPHY

Name

David Cook


Party

Republican


Election Year

2024


Election

General


Race

State Rep., Dist. 96


Incumbent

Yes


Links

David Cook websites FacebookXInstagramLinkedIn

EDUCATION

Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, BA, 1992

Texas A&M University School of Law, Fort Worth, JD, 1996

WORK & MILITARY

Candidate did not provide

AFFILIATIONS

Texas Family Law Foundation, Lifetime Member, Tarrant County Family Law Bar Association

Member, Southeast Tarrant Transportation Partnership, Chairman, Vice Chairman, & Board of Directors

Salvation Army North Texas, Advisory Council, Reagan Legacy Republican Women

Associate Member, Mansfield Historical Society, Member

Mansfield Churches FOR the City, Founder, Mansfield Area Chamber of Commerce

Member, Tarrant County Mayors Council, Member

Mansfield Cares, Board of Directors

POLITICAL OFFICES HELD

Mayor of the City of Mansfield, 2008-2021

POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT

Candidate did not provide

SCORECARDS

CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS


LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS

ENDORSEMENTS*

*These endorsements were received after the deadline and were not considered in the Panel Evaluations and are for additional educational purposes only.
CONSERVATIVE (9)

Greg Abbott

Red Wave Texas

Life PAC

National Rifle Association (NRA) PVF

Jake Ellzey

OTHER (6)

Texas Oil and Gas Association (TXOGA PAC)

Texas Alliance for Life PAC (TAL)

Texas Medical Association (TEXPAC)

Texas Municipal Police Association

Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas (CLEAT)

REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (3)

State Senator Kelly Hancock

Tarrant County Judge Tim O'Hare

Tarrant County Sheriff Bill Waybourn

SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS

CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (68)

Caroline Harris (2024)

Charles Cunnningham (2024)

Giovanni Capriglione (2024)

Jake Ellzey (2024)

Janie Lopez (2024)

RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (36)

Gary Gates (2024)

Kelly Hancock (2023)

August Pfluger (2022)

Capital Leadership Fund (2022)

Jake Ellzey (2022)


LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (0)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (8)

American Association for Justice (2024)

Texas Trial Lawyers Association (2024)

Rhetta Andrews Bowers (2023)

Salman Bhojani (2023)

Texas Sands (2022)

OTHER INFORMATION

Candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024.

The 2023 TX House from right to left according to Rice University analysis.

The candidate was the 18th most conservative State House member according to Rice University 2021 analysis.

QUESTIONNAIRE

RIGHT TO LIFE

Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?

As a father of four children and grandfather of four grandchildren, the sanctity of human life is sacred to me. I wholeheartedly supported the Texas Heartbeat Act, which banned abortions from being performed when a fetal heartbeat is detected, and the Human Life Protection Act, which banned abortions in Texas when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Additionally, I coauthored legislation to extend healthcare coverage to economically-disadvantaged new mothers for up to 12 months postpartum.

Chemical abortion drugs should meet essential safety standards (such as in-person consultation with a medical doctor) and require reporting to gather evidence on reactions and outcomes.

Strongly Agree

Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).

Strongly Agree

I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.

Choose not to answer


ECONOMY

Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.

Strongly Agree

What is your position on the minimum wage?

Did not answer

Should environmental and social issues, like ESG (environmental, social, and governance) ratings, be used as criteria in deciding where to invest public monies?

Yes

I supported SB 13 during the 87th Legislative Session, which banned state government from contracting with or investing with companies that boycott energy companies.


RELIGIOUS LIBERTY

Under what circumstances can government close churches?

During the 87th Legislative Session, I supported and coauthored HB 1239, which prohibited the suspension of laws protecting religious freedom and prohibited closure of places of worship.

Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.

Strongly Disagree


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) Taxpayer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be defunded.

Did not answer

Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?

Did not answer


NATIONAL SECURITY

The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.

Strongly Agree

Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?

Yes, the United States' relationship with Israel is important to national security.


IMMIGRATION

The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.

Strongly Agree


EDUCATION

The state should fund education by allowing dollars to follow the child through programs which protect parents' freedom to choose their child's school – public, private, or homeschool.

Strongly Agree


VALUES

Children are the most vulnerable members of society and must be protected from abuse, including gender ideology, grooming, and bodily mutilation.

Strongly Agree

Parents should have the right to make decisions for their minor children.

Strongly Agree

Taxpayer funds should be used to provide gender transition services.

Strongly Disagree

Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.

Did not answer

Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.

My wife, Tonya, and I are members of Creekwood Church in Mansfield. I was also instrumental in establishing Mansfield Churches FOR the City, which is a group of pastors and churches dedicated to the glorification of God through service to the City of Mansfield.


ELECTIONS AND VOTING

People should be able to vote without photo identification.

Strongly Disagree

States should join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact which makes the Electoral College irrelevant.

Choose not to answer


EQUALITY

Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?

Did not answer

I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.

Strongly Disagree

Biological males should not be allowed to participate in women's sports or occupy biological women's spaces whether it be bathrooms, locker rooms, sorority houses, women's shelters, or prison.

Strongly Agree


ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

Which comes closest to your view? (Select all that apply) A) Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy. B) Stricter environmental laws and regulations are worth the cost. C) Stricter environmental laws undermine U.S. energy independence and deter development of reliable electricity sources. D) Climate change is real and requires urgent policy action.

Did not answer

What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?

Did not answer


ABOUT YOU

Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.

Did not answer

Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.

Did not answer

What do you think is the general purpose of government?

Did not answer

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?

Did not answer


CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY

I support redirecting funds from police departments to community programs.

Did not answer


2ND AMENDMENT

What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?

Did not answer

Should teachers be allowed to carry guns at school?

Did not answer

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