
Merritt Hale
Republican | Virginia
Candidate Profile
Leans Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Merritt Hale
Party
Republican
Election Year
2022
Election
Primary
Race
U.S. House, Dist. 6
Incumbent
No
EDUCATION
University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Bachelor of Science in Systems Engineering, 2016
WORK & MILITARY
US Navy, Naval Officer, 2016-2020
AFFILIATIONS
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Candidate did not provide
OTHER INFORMATION
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.
Disagree
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
To protect the life of the mother.
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.
Agree
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
Make it simpler for average Americans to do their taxes.
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.
Disagree
What should be the relationship between the church and the state?
The government should respect freedom of religion.
HEALTHCARE
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
The government shouldn't mandate experimental vaccines.
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.
Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, along with private health insurance.
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.
The United States should help countries trying to grow democracy and fight tyranny where it makes sense. Costly "forever wars" should be avoided.
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
The Chinese Communist Party will be the greatest challenge to the United States in the coming decades.
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
The United States should utilize all instruments of national power to ensure terrorists do not threaten the homeland.
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Strongly Agree
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.
Agree
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
The United States has been a beacon of freedom to immigrants throughout our history. We should welcome immigrants ready to contribute to a vibrant American society while also securing our borders against illegal immigration. Special emphasis should be placed on attracting highly skilled and educated immigrants who can invest in America's future.
VALUES
Sexual orientation and gender identity should be protected classes in non-discrimination laws.
Neutral
All persons regardless of sexual orientation, along with their spiritual/religious beliefs, should be treated with respect and dignity.
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, common sense conservative.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
If you need an ID to fly or buy alcohol, it's not too much to ask for an ID to vote.
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
Ensuring election integrity and ensuring that all Americans can trust our voting institutions and have faith in our democracy.
EQUALITY
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Strongly Disagree
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Racism is abhorrent but we should not allow the actions of a few to tar the reputation of the many good Americans who are not racist and treat their fellow Americans with respect.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.
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.
In general, stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy. However, some regulations may be necessary to ensure our water and other resources are safe.
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
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
Did not answer
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized in either civil or criminal court for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
I have never been convicted/otherwise penalized in civil or criminal court.
What else would you like voters to know about you, including your legislative priorities?
I got into this race due to my father's experience with the VA. He was also a veteran who suffered from a degenerative brain disease before passing away on Christmas Eve 2021. My family's experience with the VA and other government bureaucracies was terrible and no American or Veteran should have to go through that. Reforming the VA, healthcare and elder/veteran care is a top priority. I also want to ensure a strong foreign policy that stands up to Russia and China without sending American troops into needless "forever wars." Finally, I want to improve the infrastructure of the 6th district to include roads and internet access.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Police officers should be personally immune from prosecution for conduct consistent with departmental policy (qualified immunity) while on duty.
Agree
I support redirecting funds from police departments to mental health and community programs.
Strongly Disagree
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
I am a strong supporter of second amendment rights for all law-abiding citizens. Ensuring career criminals and persons suffering from mental health problems do not have access to guns will protect public safety. Many proposals regarding gun safety only punish the law-abiding while doing nothing to prevent gun access to criminals or the mentally ill.
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Disagree
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