Mary Souza
Republican | Idaho
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
Mary Souza
Party
Republican
Election Year
2022
Election
Primary
Race
Secretary of State
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Holy Names Academy, Spokane, WA, 1971
Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA, Transferred, 1972
Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, WA, BSN (Nursing), 1976
Whitworth University, Spokane, WA, Health Ed., 1989
WORK & MILITARY
Candidate did not provide
AFFILIATIONS
Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce
Kootenai County Reagan Republicans
North Idaho Pachyderms, Kootenai County Republican Women Federated
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Idaho Senator for District 4
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Mayor of Coeur d’Alene, 2013
Race
SCORECARDS
CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS
2019-20
100%
2020
71%, 74% (cum.)†
2019-20
|100%
2020
|71%, 74% (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 (7)
*Chuck Winder
*Doug Ricks
Idaho Chooses Life
Jim Guthrie
*Ron Crane
OTHER (1)
Dave Lent
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (10)
Chuck Winder, Idaho Senate President Pro Tempore
Idaho Senator Jim Rice
Idaho Senator Lori Den Hartog
Idaho Senator Steve Vick
Idaho Senator Scott Grow
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (1)
State Republican Party Organizations (2018)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
OTHER INFORMATION
2022 Idaho GOP voter guide
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
Only when the life of the mother is in peril.
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Choose not to answer
Government should not be funding the termination of life at any stage.
I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Strongly Disagree
ECONOMY
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
For starters, the tax code should be simplified. Idaho reduced the number of tax brackets and lowered state income tax.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
While I believe we should be good stewards of the environment and expand our energy resources, the government has wasted millions of dollars on green energy and related start up companies. The government needs to get out of the energy business and allow the free market to find solutions that work.
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.
Disagree
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
None.
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
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
Healthcare decisions should be between an individual and his or her healthcare provider.
NATIONAL SECURITY
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
This is a national issue and not something Idaho can solve.
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
I support Israel.
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Strongly Agree
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
Only those without a criminal record and who follow the proper immigration laws should be allowed to immigrate to the US.
EDUCATION
I support school choice, including voucher programs, tax credits, charter schools, private schools, and home schools.
Strongly Agree
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Strongly Agree
I support adding gender identity as a specially protected class in non-discrimination laws.
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
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 and believe in traditional Judeo Christian values.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
No one should be able to vote without a proper government issued photo ID.
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
I’m running for Idaho Secretary of State. Idaho needs comprehensive election reform including: 100% Voter ID at the Polls No more ballot drop boxes for absentee ballots Ballot harvesting should be illegal
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
No. Most Americans are not racist. A greater threat to domestic security is when policies and identity politics pit one group of Americans against another.
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
I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.
Strongly Agree
ABOUT YOU
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
I believe that limited government is important to an orderly society. It can offer protections a single person or family cannot, such as law and order, national defense, interstate commerce and transportation, and a secure system for elections at all levels.
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).
https://magicvalley.com/opinion/columnists/malloy-idaho-vulnerable-with-elections-souza-warns/article_e24c4368-01d0-50b7-a1c4-c1212aac4307.html; https://idahospeaks.com/podcast/mary-souza-running-for-idaho-secretary-of-state/
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 have worked tirelessly to secure our elections and have been the leading voice on important election security measures including Voter ID, secure ballot storage and protecting seniors from predatory ballot harvesting practices. I will continue to prevent Big Tech money from trying to influence our elections. Last year’s “test run” is a dangerous threat that will remain unless we update and secure our laws. I will provide clear communication and pro-active leadership for all 44 county election offices to make sure your vote is protected and guarantee our elections are safe and secure. The Secretary of State is one of five statewide officials to sit on the Land Board and oversees our important state endowment lands, which play a key role in funding K-12 education and children’s mental health. These endowment lands include timber, mining, water, and grazing lands. I believe additional education opportunities will best prepare our children for the future. As a passionate advocate for education, I believe access to career technical education, Charter Schools and School Choice are key opportunities our children deserve. I believe parents have the final say in their children’s education which prompted me to sponsor the Parental Rights in Education Bill during my first term in the Idaho Senate. I will also work to ensure our children’s mental health is prioritized and accessible for those who need it most. I will work to support Idaho’s economy and continue to be a strong voice for the livelihoods that depend on our endowment lands. As a small business owner, I know first-hand how red tape makes it more difficult to do business. I will use her experience on the Senate Commerce and Human Relations Committee which prioritizes reducing regulations to help create more jobs and strengthen our economy. Additionally, timber, mining, and agriculture are critical economic sectors for our state which still face huge challenges from COVID. A sudden increase in fees will decimate the ranchers and farmers who worked so hard to keep our grocery stores stocked throughout COVID, so any changes must be made with care. I will work to create flexibility in the leasing framework for our miners and provide stability in the face of future catastrophic events.
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
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
The right to keep and bear arms should not be infringed.
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Strongly Disagree
