Leon Benjamin Sr
Republican | Virginia
Candidate Profile
Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Leon Benjamin Sr
Party
Republican
Election Year
2023
Election
Special U.S. House District 4
Race
US House of Reps. Dist. 4
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Huguenot High School, Richmond, Diploma, 1986
Virginia Union University, Richmond, 1987-89
Rovear University, Petersburg, Masters, 2015
University of Virginia, Charlottesville, 1986-87
WORK & MILITARY
US Navy, Avionics Electronic Technician, 8
AFFILIATIONS
New Life Harvest Church, Bishop, Coalition of Leaders United
President, Richmond City Republican Committee, Former Chairman
Fox and Friends, Trump Surrogate, Fox Business
Trump Surrogate, Heritage Foundation, Member
The Remnant Church, Apostle/Pastor, Next Gen Learning Center
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Richmond City Republican Committee, 2
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Richmond City Council, 2016
House of Representatives 4th Congressional District, 2020
House of Representatives 4th Congressional District, 2022
Race
Previous Races
SCORECARDS
CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS
LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS
ENDORSEMENTS
CONSERVATIVE (2)
Glenn Youngkin
Rally Virginia
OTHER (1)
Trinity Empowerment LLC
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (8)
Bishop EW Jackson
State Senator William Stanley
Delegate Scott Wyatt
Congressman Paul Gosar
Congressman Rob Wittman
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (4)
Allen West (2021)
Jackson Lahmeyer (2022)
Local, County, and District Republican Organizations (2022)
WinRed (2022)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (26)
Amanda Chase (2022)
America's First PAC (2020)
Black Americans to Re-Elect the President (2020)
Bruce Eberle (2020)
Carrie Coyner (2020)
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive 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.
Strongly Disagree
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
In the case of the mother may lose her life,
ECONOMY
Redistribution of income is needed to lessen the gap between the wealthy and working classes.
Disagree
The government should cut spending in order to reduce the national debt.
Strongly Agree
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
A bill to abolish the IRS, eliminate the National Income Tax and replace it with a National Consumption Tax.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Religious liberty is at risk in the United States and deserves the highest level of protection in the law.
Strongly Agree
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
What should be the relationship between the church and the state?
Government should not force its citizens to join a state run church. However every citizen should be 100% involved in civic duties which include attending city and county school board and council meetings, talking and meeting with legislators, running for political office (local, state and federal), to know and defend the US Constitution for foreign and domestic enemies.
HEALTHCARE
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
None
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.
B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options.
NATIONAL SECURITY
With regard to America's foreign policy, which view most closely resembles yours: A) The United States should intervene whenever freedom is threatened. B) The United States should selectively help countries trying to grow democracy and fight tyranny. C) The United States has become too involved in others' policies and should remain focused on issues regarding our own sovereignty unless in imminent danger. D) The United States should stay out of foreign conflicts completely.
B) The United States should selectively help countries trying to grow democracy and fight tyranny.
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.
Strongly Disagree
The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.
Strongly Agree
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
Close our southern borders and build the wall and stop illegal immigration, work with ally nations to eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism, deter and discourage and eliminate all forms of recruitment from being displayed or enacted on social media platforms or through organizations planted in the USA
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Strongly Agree
Build the wall, all illegal immigrants to remain in Mexico until determined status of immigration application
State and federal funds shall be denied to any public or private entity, such as a sanctuary city, that is not in compliance with immigration laws.
Strongly Agree
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
Those who follow the law that is already in place until such laws are amended or reformed.
VALUES
Sexual orientation and gender identity should be protected classes in non-discrimination laws.
Agree
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Strongly Disagree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a Christian with Judaic roots. I believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God. I believe man is fallen and his only hope of redemption is by faith in Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior. I believe in the 1st Amendment and the Bill of Rights as listed in the US Constitution. I believe in the US Constitution. I believe in the Sanctify of Life. I believe marriage is a sacred bond instituted by God between one male and one female. I believe birth begins at conception.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
In the state of Virginia voter ID should be required. Mail in Ballots should be limited to those who can not vote in person due to mitigating circumstances as prescribed by law. Election season should be returned to Election Day. Paper ballots should only be used and counted by hand until machines are fully certified and authenticated to do an accurate count of the vote. All voter rolls should be fully audited of any discrepancies. All ballot boxes should have full chain of custody and cameras installed. All registrar and those who count handled ballots should have a body camera installed.
EQUALITY
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Disagree
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Yes. No individual should be judged on the basis of their color, gender or nationality but on the content of their character.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.
Strongly Agree
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 and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy.
ABOUT YOU
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
I believe there is still room to bridge relationships and work together regardless of party affiliation. We must begin to think how we can transcend party lines and unite the people to come together to solve the problems that face all American Citizens.
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/LeonBenjaminVA4
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?
I am husband of thirty-one years, father of three wonderful children and a pastor of twenty years. I am a small business owner and a community activists. I am a native Virginian and have lived in Richmond, VA all my life. I have worked with the Richmond City Police in community initiatives to better protect the lives of the people in the community. I believe in School Choice in that The Money Should Follow the Child. Parents should have a choice in where they choose to send their children in order to get the best education. I believe we should fund the police and not defund the police in order to protect the citizens. I believe in standing with Parental Rights where parents have the right to determined what curriculums are being taught to their children in schools.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Police officers should be personally immune from prosecution for conduct consistent with departmental policy (qualified immunity) while on duty.
Strongly Agree
I support redirecting funds from police departments to mental health and community programs.
Disagree
We should have those programs but not at the expense of defunding the police which lowers moral and cause good cops to leave prematurely, causing our communities to become vulnerable to crime.
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
None. Each law abiding citizen under the 2nd Amendment is accountable to protect public safety. Those who do not follow the rule of law are the true threat to public safety.
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Disagree
