Matt Lockett
Republican | Kentucky
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
Matt Lockett
Party
Republican
Election Year
2022
Election
General
Race
State Rep., Dist. 39
Incumbent
Yes
Links
EDUCATION
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Master of Divinity, 1998
Murray State University, Murray, Bachelor of Science, 1996
WORK & MILITARY
Thrivent Financial, Financial Advisor
Edward Jones, Financial Advisor
KY Department of Insurance, Director
Family Wealth Group, Financial Advisor, 2021-present
AFFILIATIONS
Republican Party of Jessamine County, Chairman, Immanuel Baptist Church
Teacher / Leader / Volunteer, National Alzheimer's Association, Ambassador
Americans for Prosperity, Volunteer, Jessamine County Schools
Volunteer, God's Pantry, Volunteer
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
State Representative, 2021-present
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
State Representative, 2012
U.S. Representative, 2010
Race
SCORECARDS
CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS
2021-2022
100%
2021-2022
97%
2021
92%, 92% (cum.)†
2021-2022
|100%
2021-2022
|97%
2021
|92%, 92% (cum.)†
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 (6)
*National Rifle Association (NRA) PVF
Family Research Council Action PAC
*Kentucky Right to Life Association (KRLA)
*Freedoms Heritage Forum
*Commonwealth Policy Center
OTHER (1)
*Kentucky Fraternal Order of Police
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (1)
KY Right to Life
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (0)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (11)
Bill Polyniak (2020)
Bluegrass Committee (2022)
Chad McCoy (2020)
David W. Osborne (2020)
Jonah Mitchell (2020)
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
Voting pro-life has been a privilege of mine and I will continue to vote to defend the rights of unborn children. Abortion is taking the life of child.
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Agree
Abortion providers should not receive any taxpayer funds whatsoever.
Do you support the proposed Yes for Life amendment to the Kentucky Constitution, which makes clear that there is no state constitutional right to abortion?
Yes
I was happy to vote in favor of this Amendment to the KY Constitution in the General Assembly
I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Disagree
ECONOMY
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
We should move from an income-based tax system, such as the income tax, to a more consumption-based tax system.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
I believe that we should be very particular with our spending as we are spending taxpayer dollars. Every dollar must be accounted for and wasteful spending must be eliminated.
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Disagree
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
Under no circumstances should government be able to close churches. I voted in favor of the "Church is Essential" Act.
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.
C. I do believe that outside of Medicaid and Medicare, taxpayer funded insurance is not necessary. Medicaid and Medicare, however, should remain available.
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
None.
NATIONAL SECURITY
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
Secure our borders and do thorough background checks on those entering legally. We should not financially support any known state or nation that harbors terrorists. Any state or nation known to harbor or support terrorism should be on a list of nations that the US does not support with trade or financially.
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.
Disagree
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Strongly Agree
We must stop the flow of illegal immigrants into this country. If a person would like to immigrate to the United States, he/she must go through the appropriate legal avenues to do so.
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
America should be open to legal immigration. We have laws that govern immigration. Our Southern border needs to be closed. We cannot allow any immigrants that don't come through the legal process.
EDUCATION
The state should fund education by allowing dollars to follow the child instead of the bureaucracy, through a program which allows parents the freedom to choose their child's school – public, private, or homeschool.
Agree
Parents are in control of their child's education. They are the ones to decide what education is best for their child. The state's dollars should fund students, not institutions.
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Agree
I support adding gender identity as a specially protected class in non-discrimination laws.
Disagree
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Strongly Disagree
I introduced legislation this session to eliminate the promotion of CRT, bigotry and revisionist history in our public schools. I disagree with the Marxist teachings of Critical Race Theory and do not believe our tax dollars should be used to fund this teaching in K-12 or post-secondary institutions.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a Christian and a believer in Jesus. My relationship with God is the most important thing in my life as I strive daily to live for Him.
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition
Agree
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
A photo ID should be mandatory to vote.
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
Photo ID must be required. All voting must be completed on a paper ballot, so there is a paper trail for vote recounts.
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
I don't believe that racism is a threat to domestic security. There are those, however, that choose to riot or destroy property based on racial tensions. We have seen that recently with various events around our country.
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Strongly Disagree
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.
A. Stricter environmental laws have not been proven to help the environment. These regulations eliminate jobs and severely hurt the economy.
I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.
Agree
ABOUT YOU
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
To protect the citizens from foreign and domestic threats; regulate commerce between the states and provide for infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, etc. Government does many other things to regulate, but primarily government is too big and too far-reaching.
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).
I received a 92% conservative voting record from the CPAC ratings for each legislator. I was ranked the second most conservative member of the House of Representatives
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?
My voting record, so far, exemplifies who I am as a legislator. I'm a conservative pro-life Christian. That's how I vote and that's how I legislate. My goal is to leave my district and state better than before. I will always stand up for life, our Constitution, job creation and economic development.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Police officers should be personally immune from prosecution for conduct consistent with departmental policy (qualified immunity) while on duty.
Agree
I support redirecting funds from police departments to mental health and community programs.
Strongly Disagree
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
The 2nd Amendment does not provide for any restrictions on gun ownership. I believe we should follow the Constitution.
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Strongly Disagree
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
Do you support the expansion of gambling in Kentucky?
No
The LGBTQ+ agenda’s advocacy for puberty blockers, biological males competing on girls’ sports teams, and allowing biological males into girls’ restrooms, locker rooms, and showers threatens the wellbeing of our children.
Strongly Agree
