Madison Downs
Republican | Virginia
Candidate Profile*
Insufficient Information
*Additional information appears below for educational purposes; however, only data received prior to the candidate deadline was considered during Panel Evaluation.
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Madison Downs
Party
Republican
Election Year
2020
Election
Primary
Race
U.S. House, Dist. 3
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Howard University, Washington, D.C., MDiv, 2012
Carson-Newman University, Jefferson City, TN, BSc, 2005
Mt. San Jacinto College, San Jacinto, CA, AS Beh Sci & AS PhysED, 2000
WORK & MILITARY
U.S. Army, Captain/E-3, 2007-2013
U.S. Marine Corps, Legal Service Specialist/E-2, 1995-1998
AFFILIATIONS
Marine Corps League, Member, American Legion
Member, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin (NOAA), Member
Reserve Officers Association (ROA), Member, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)
Member
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
(Candidate did not provide)
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
(Candidate did not provide)
Race
ENDORSEMENTS*
*These endorsements were received after the deadline and were not considered in the Panel Evaluations and are for additional educational purposes only.
CONSERVATIVE (1)
Jarome Bell
OTHER (2)
*Make Virginia Great Again
*Red Eagle Politics
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (3)
Make Virginia Great Again/Chairman-John Fredericks
Red Eagle Politics
One City One Voice
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?
Life starts at conception. Every attempt should be made to save the life of the child from conception to birth. Only in cases where the mother’s life is in critical danger should an abortion even be considered, and even then every measure should be taken to preserve the life of the child. Rape and incest should also be considered, although they only account for less than 1% of all abortions. I am a teacher and I believe every child is worthy to be born. There is nothing more evil than the practice of mid and late term abortion when the baby can actually feel the pain.
ECONOMY
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has a livable income.
Disagree
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
How would you guarantee Social Security benefits for future generations?
Money that is being paid into the Social Security program by American workers and their employers should never be touched for anything else except for the retirement of those individuals that worked for it. Anything other than this is theft. Also, I support changing the system to allow younger workers to begin investing a portion of their social security. The government should not have the control it has over the finances and futures of American citizens. Americans should have the opportunity to decide where they want their money to go. Each individual is ultimately responsible for his/her future...not the government.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
There are some programs that should never be cut, such as our military (and the safety of our service members) and programs for our veterans. I would go through each item of discretionary spending to cut our debt that is currently over $24 trillion. The current Social Security Program is not working the way it is and it is putting a burden on the government. I believe the best way to help the budget overall is to stimulate the economy and make sure our businesses are healthy and thriving.
Under what circumstances should taxpayers help pay off existing student loans?
I believe taxpayers should only pay off existing student loans if someone becomes permanently disabled or a veteran that missed GI Bill for a legitimate reason. A college education is a choice. There are scholarships and grants to help students with the cost of college. I do believe that the interest rates put undue burdens on college graduates and should be lowered.
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
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?
“Separation of church and state” means that the church cannot be manipulated, controlled, or influenced by the government in any way. The First Amendment should never be abused. The government should remain neutral on religion. Our Constitution shares cohesive values with the Torah and Hebrew beliefs, but we must be respectful of all religions as long at they do not impose any restrictions on each other.
HEALTHCARE
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has health insurance.
Disagree
I support the elimination of private healthcare insurance.
Strongly Disagree
How would you promote healthcare coverage that is adequate, affordable and accessible for all?
The cost of medical care in the United States is beyond compare with any other nation. There are many contributing factors to the overwhelming costs, liability insurance, hospital administration, cost of health education, and the costs of medical supplies. One of the greatest impacts to the cost of medical care is the cost of Pharmaceutical Drugs. This unfortunate situation seems to be unique to the United States. The Pharmaceutical Industry spends billions of dollars on lobbyists to pursue politicians to favor Pharmaceutical Companies on having no finiancial ceiling on the price of the medications. These medications are a critical need for our citizens who are experiencing the many diseases, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and cancer. The very medications that these companies target, we depend on for our survival. We must do better for our citizens.
NATIONAL SECURITY
The best way to maintain peace is through a strong military.
Strongly Agree
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of radical Islamic terrorism?
First, we need to protect our home land by securing our borders and waters, as well as continuing to stay vigilant about protecting our air space and international flights. We need to do all that is necessary to cut off their cash flow as much as possible. Our military will play an important role in eliminating the threat of Islamic terrorism abroad. At home, anyone found guilty of terrorism will be sentenced to live in prison with no chance of release.
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
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) should be abolished.
Strongly Disagree
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
Employers should be required to use E-verify to confirm the eligibility of their employees to work in the United States.
Strongly Agree
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
Anyone that is not a terrorist or a violent criminal should have the opportunity to legally apply to immigrate to the United States. Our immigration system needs an overhaul that will utilize technological advancements with tight security to ensure that everyone that comes to this country is bound by the same laws that our citizens are. I believe in borders, tight laws, and rules on immigration, but I do believe that our nation is blessed when we welcome others into our country to share the American dream.
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.
My heritage is comes from Judeo-Hebrew beliefs, which include the Old and New Testament. My belief is that Yeoshua, known as Jesus, is the Messiah and has called us to walk in the teachings of the Torah and the Christ. Although I believe in complete separation of Church and State, my worldview encompasses conservative views that will guide and inspire me as a Representative of the 3rd District of Virginia.
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?
Conservative
Please provide publicly available information validating your answer to the previous question.
Just like many other black Americans, I was affiliated with the Democratic Party. I am a family man, a veteran, a teacher, and a business man. I realized that the more I grew as a person, the more my core values and world view became conservative. I took a look around my community and was disappointed that the Democrats that had been in office for years had not made any positive impact or changes in the lives of the constituents. I started researching the parties in detail. I realized that I not only shared the same values as my fellow Republicans, but I also had the leadership qualities to get something done for the people. For the last year, I have made strong public stances on social media, in debates, and in open forums discussing my opposition to abortion, support of school choice, and veteran’s care. My website madisonforhamptonroads.com is an excellent resource to find out more about me.
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 am a family man. My family is the most important thing in my life. I take my responsibility as a husband and father seriously. Hampton Roads is the home of my ancestors and I love my community! It saddens me to have seen firsthand the struggles of our declining middle-class families, along with the many families in this region who suffer the same decline. I can relate to their struggles. I have experienced homelessness, and living paycheck to paycheck. Therefore, I truly understand the plight of the many disenfranchised individuals living within the Third District. As a teacher, and community developer in impoverished neighborhoods, I know the trials and tribulations of poverty and I am acutely sensitive to the issues and needs of our most affected citizens. My life experiences have shaped me into the man I am today. I am God fearing, compassionate, strong, and caring individual and I will bring all of my experiences and expertise to this endeavor. My commitment of service
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Mandatory minimum sentencing should be required and enforced for violent crimes.
Agree
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
Restrictions of gun ownership should consist of background checks to determine mental stability and violent crime history, as well as any person on a no-fly or watch list. The laws should be the least restrictive as possible for able minded, law abiding adult citizens. Each one of these people have the right to defend their families, their own lives, and their possessions from attack of any kind.
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
I support BDS (boycott, divestment, and sanction) against Israel if they refuse to allow the creation of a Palestinian state.
Strongly Disagree
I support the legalization of recreational marijuana.
Disagree
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
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?
1. I plan to align my efforts with our other conservative state representatives in an effort to advance the policies that will help guarantee that our veterans are cared for when they return to civilian life. Our veterans are not getting complete physical or mental help that is needed to ensure that they live healthy lives upon returning home. They protect us and our land every single day, and we must fight for them at home to make sure they get every benefit they deserve and what America has to offer. 2. Education and School Choice-We no longer have Vocational and Technical Skills Training classes that have the ability to prepare our youth with skills to obtain good paying jobs immediately after completing high school. I have a plan and a team dedicated to develop the necessary programs and policies to advance this initiative for jobs right here in the Tidewater area! 3. Health Insurance-There are too many Americans that cannot afford basic medications, co-pays, or deductibles.
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Although the United States has come a long way in the last 50 years in race relations, recent studies show that black Americans still experience inequalities in housing, healthcare, employment, and education. I believe that there is a movement happening where people from every ethnic group are tired of the divide and we are coming together as we should and saying enough is enough. We are ONE nation under God, INDIVISIBLE, with LIBERTY and JUSTICE for ALL. Indivisible. We can’t be divided, but many are trying to divide us as a nation. I believe our people are too smart to let the Democratic Party continue to divide us. Yes, there are still racists. Some people are just bad, but I believe that in general people are good and I will fight for justice for ALL people in the 3rd District.
