Carl Tepper
Republican | Texas
Candidate Profile*
Leans Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
EDUCATION
Texas Tech University, Lubbock, BA, 1995
WORK & MILITARY
United States Air Force, Sgt, 1985-1991
AFFILIATIONS
Salvation Army - Lubbock Corps, President, Treasurer
Texas Republican County Chairmen's Association, President
Trump - Pence Presidential Campaign, Texas Statewide Field Director
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Chairman, Lubbock County Republican Party - 4
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Austin City Council, 2003-
SCORECARDS
CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS
2024-2025
100%
2025
96%
2025 (most current)
87%
2025
94%, 85%†
2023
83%
2025
82%
2025
81%
2025
75%
2023
C+
2025
C+
2024-2025
|100%
2025
|96%
2025 (most current)
|87%
2025
|94%, 85%†
2023
|83%
2025
|82%
2025
|81%
2025
|75%
2023
|C+
2025
|C+
LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS
2025
60%, 45%†
2025
45%
2025
24%
2023
F
2025
|60%, 45%†
2025
|45%
2025
|24%
2023
|F
ENDORSEMENTS*
CONSERVATIVE (6)
National Rifle Association NRA-PVF
Texas Home School Coalition THSC PAC
Life PAC
National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Texas
*Texas Young Republicans
LIBERAL (1)
Houston Police Officers Union PAC
OTHER (5)
Greg Abbott
Texas Oil and Gas Association TXOGA PAC
Texas Association of Business TXBIZ PAC
Texas Alliance for Life TAL PAC
*Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas CLEAT PAC
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (39)
Local, County, District Republican Organizations (2026)
Mayes Middleton (2026)
Young Republican National Federation (2026)
Local, County, and District Republican Organizations (2025)
Project Destiny Texas PAC (2025)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (20)
Charles Lee Perry (2026)
Dustin Burrows (2026)
Texas Conservative Coalition (2026)
Jodey Arrington (2025)
Capital Leadership Fund (2024)
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (2)
Erin Zwiener (2025)
Delwin Jones (2010)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
OTHER INFORMATION
The 2025 Texas House from right to left according to analysis by Rice University’s James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy.
The 2023 Texas House from right to left according to analysis by Rice University’s James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy.
Candidate signed the Vaccine Choice Protection Pledge.
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Agree
Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?
Elective abortion should not be permitted. Every human life has inherent dignity and deserves protection from conception. Medical treatment necessary to save the mother’s life or address conditions such as ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage is not an elective abortion and should always remain available. We should also strengthen support for mothers, families, adoption, and crisis-pregnancy resources.
Human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.
Strongly Agree
The lives of human embryos created through artificial methods ought to be protected from purposeful destruction.
Strongly Agree
The Comstock Act, which bans interstate transportation of abortion-inducing drugs, should be enforced.
Strongly Agree
ECONOMY
What is your position on the minimum wage?
I do not support a minimum wage. I believe the free market should determine wages, and individuals should be free to determine for which wage they would work.
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
List your top 3-5 priorities to eliminate government waste.
1. I support expanding performance audits and eliminating programs that are duplicative, ineffective, or outside the proper role of state government. 2. I support enforcing meaningful sunset review by requiring agencies and programs to demonstrate measurable results before receiving continued funding. 3. I support combatting fraud, improper payments, and abuse of taxpayer-funded benefit programs through stronger eligibility verification, data sharing, and accountability.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
“Separation of church and state” means government must neither establish an official religion nor interfere with the free exercise of faith. It does not mean religious belief must be excluded from public life or that people of faith must set aside their convictions when serving in government. My Christian faith informs my values, policy perspectives, and understanding of the proper role of government, while I remain committed to protecting constitutional rights.
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
Government should not compel individuals or businesses to provide services that violate their sincerely held moral or religious beliefs, particularly when doing so would require compelled speech or expression. Religious liberty and freedom of conscience are fundamental constitutional rights and should be protected while respecting the lawful rights of others.
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) Taxpayer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be defunded.
C. The CHIP programs have been beneficial.
The government should keep a database of people with various ongoing medical illnesses to assess the economic burden of treatment.
Strongly Disagree
NATIONAL SECURITY
The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.
Strongly Agree
Other nations reflect that threat as well.
Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?
Yes. Israel is one of America’s most important strategic allies and a vital partner in intelligence, defense, counterterrorism, and regional security. Our nations share democratic values and a commitment to religious liberty. A strong U.S.–Israel relationship also helps deter Iran and terrorist organizations, promotes stability in the Middle East, and strengthens the security of both nations.
IMMIGRATION
I support the existence of sanctuary cities to protect undocumented persons.
Strongly Disagree
EDUCATION
I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving control back to states and communities.
Strongly Agree
Foreign governments should be prohibited from funding American education.
Strongly Agree
VALUES
Government should recognize and support the fundamental right and essential duty of parents to direct their child's health and educational well-being.
Strongly Agree
Parents have the primary right and duty to direct their children’s upbringing, education, healthcare, and religious formation. Government should respect parental authority while protecting minors from harmful or irreversible medical interventions. Schools and health care providers should not socially transition children or conceal important information about a child’s well-being from parents.
Attempts to physically or socially transition a child to the opposite sex constitute child abuse.
Strongly Agree
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.
Strongly Agree
I support the expansion of gambling in my state.
Strongly Disagree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a Christian who believes in the authority of Scripture and the saving grace of Jesus Christ. My faith teaches that every person is created in the image of God and possesses inherent dignity. It calls me to live with integrity, humility, compassion, and personal responsibility; to serve others; to protect life and religious liberty; and to be a faithful steward of the responsibilities entrusted to me.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
EQUALITY
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Strongly Disagree
Biological males should not be allowed to participate in women's sports or occupy biological women's spaces whether it be bathrooms, locker rooms, sorority houses, women's shelters, or prison.
Strongly Agree
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Man-made climate change is a global threat and requires urgent political action.
Strongly Disagree
What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?
Oil and natural gas. Nuclear energy is emerging with new and safer technology.
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?
Very Conservative
Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.
No
Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.
No
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
What should be the goal of the criminal justice system?
The primary goal of the criminal justice system should be to protect the public, uphold the rule of law, provide justice for victims, and hold offenders accountable. It must also safeguard due process, impose penalties proportionate to the offense, deter future crime, and provide opportunities for rehabilitation and successful reentry when appropriate.
Government has a responsibility to protect children from sexual exploitation during online activities.
Strongly Agree
Sharia law should not be accepted or incorporated in any form within the legal framework of the United States.
Strongly Agree
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
The right of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms must be protected. Restrictions should focus narrowly on violent felons and individuals adjudicated by a court to pose a serious danger to themselves or others, with strong due-process protections. Public safety is best served by enforcing existing laws, prosecuting violent criminals, and addressing mental-health crises—not burdening responsible gun owners.
