Aaron Yates
Republican | Kentucky
Candidate Profile
Conservative (Conditional)
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Aaron Yates
Party
Republican
Election Year
2020
Election
General
Race
State Rep., Dist. 88
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond KY, BA Political Science, 2010
WORK & MILITARY
(Candidate did not provide)
AFFILIATIONS
National Association for Gun Rights, Deputy Director of Field Operations + Others, National Right to Work Committee
Communications Director, Kentucky Friendship Project, Board Member
National Pro Life Alliance, Volunteer, Campaign for Liberty
Volunteer, Numerous Campaigns
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
(Candidate did not provide)
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
(Candidate did not provide)
Race
ENDORSEMENTS
CONSERVATIVE (5)
Commonwealth Policy Center
Kentucky Right to Life Association (KRLA)
National Rifle Association (NRA) PVF
Take Back Kentucky
Thomas Massie
OTHER (1)
Operation Win at the Door
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (2)
Congressman Thomas Massie
National Association for Gun Rights PAC
OTHER INFORMATION
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?
I do not believe in any exceptions to a necessary prohibition against murdering the unborn. While some people believe in medical exemptions, I believe these should be defenses and not affirmative statements of permitted behavior.
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?
There's a lot of waste, but right off the bat my first priority is administrative waste, including but not exclusively limited to education administration. I find it egregious that in some school districts administrators outnumber teachers and remain a substantial burden on the state budget in regards to education and as a whole.
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?
That the government should exercise no control or power that would infringe on the sovereignty of the church, its doctrine, or its members.
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 would promote better healthcare by pushing for higher competition and transparency in the market, including competition from faith-based organizations, hospitals, coverage providers and non-profits. Many churches struggle in addressing needs in healthcare because of bureaucratic red tape that inhibits their ability to serve the community. I also would like to allow the decoupling of catastrophic coverage from the rest of your healthcare plan. In doing so we could transition from an expensive mixed-system that charges for what is essentially pre-paid healthcare as a condition for getting insurance.
NATIONAL SECURITY
The best way to maintain peace is through a strong military.
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.
Agree
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
In general, I believe that anybody that goes through the proper procedures and earnestly seeks to become a U.S. citizen should be allowed to immigrate. We absolutely need to process for National Security reasons, we obviously want people who are committed to the American ideals of tolerance, individualism, and entrepreneurship. In some ways, I think the current system is adequate, in other ways I think real reform is needed, but in the meantime, illegal immigration and sanctuary cities aren't a stop-gap they are a product of failed policies and inaction and are clearly an area where enforcement and reform need to be discussed.
EDUCATION
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
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.
Strongly Disagree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I'm a Protestant Southern Baptist and I believe and adhere to the Baptist Faith and Message. I believe in the trinitarian tradition that Jesus came in the flesh, wholly mand and wholly God, to fulfill God's covenant and bring about a second covenant through the shedding of his blood in crucifixion. As a result, the veil of the Temple was torn and through the atonement, the Holy Spirit was no longer separated from man. By that sacrifice, all mankind is able to receive the salvation of Christ by turning his life over to Christ and repenting of his sins. (Being born again) There is no other path of salvation for flawed and broken people who are condemned by their sin-nature. The Bible is the inspired word of God, infallible in its message (although it can be perverted by sinful men in translation) and the basis for what is true and sinful behavior. As for values, God is first followed by family and any attempts to displace God is idolatry in any form - sex, drugs, alcohol, etc.
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.
My entire adult life I've been working for conservative causes and candidates. I worked for Senator Rand Paul in his first run for office, and I should be listed on his FEC report from 2010. I've since worked with numerous organizations and candidates - I've been endorsed by Congressman Thomas Massie, I worked for former Colorado Senator Tim Neville on his FEC report, I worked for the Colorado House Republican Caucus, that information is also publicly available. I've been a registered lobbyist with the National Association for Gun Rights for many years and a picture of myself with Governor Bevin at the signing of Constitutional Carry is available on the NAGR Facebook page from March 15, 2019. I'm sure I've missed some other information available but will gladly expand on what fights I've been involved in if necessary.
What education or experience qualifies you to hold the office for which you seek election?
I've worked in policy for over a decade, I've been involved in numerous races and I've drafted bills that have become law. However, I think my greatest asset is that I want to be a vote for conservative values.
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'm not excited about the challenges ahead of me, the state has many serious issues to address. I'm running to make a difference, to be a voice of reason, fiscal responsibility, and despite my age, a voice of maturity in a body that desperately needs it. That said, you have to be crazy if you want to tackle attacks from the radical left, and I don't particularly want to, but I feel obligated to. It took me many months of praying before I filed for office, and I feel like in the end, God placed me where I'm supposed to be, a place where I have the opportunity to make a difference.
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.
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 don't believe in restrictions on gun ownership outside of expanded educational and safety resources. I do think current laws are overstepping and often inadequate but the statistics do not lie, gun ownership deters crime and gun violence is overwhelmingly an issue of gang and drug crime.
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
I support the legalization of recreational marijuana.
Agree
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?
There are some religious freedom and abortion bills still being considered as I submit this, but those are a top priority. I want Kentucky to have a Taxpayer Bill of Rights Amendment by which all tax and revenue-producing fee increases are placed on the ballot for confirmation by the general public. Also important is criminal justice reform, I want to work with prison ministries on methods we can get non-violent offenders back on the right path in life through criminal justice reform.
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Yes, ethnic-based terrorism has been an issue for many decades now. We've seen plenty of anti-semitic attacks, we've seen death at the hands of white nationalists, and a few years ago we had a black-identitarian seeking out and executing police in Texas. Not racially involved, but we've seen similar collective vitriol directed at Christians in church. We can't ignore these people exist, and their threats are real. I do believe the media over sensationalizes the degree and number of people engaged in this activity, but that does not discount the fact that they exist.
