James Judge
Republican | Florida
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
James Judge
Party
Republican
Election Year
2022
Election
Primary
Race
U.S. Rep., Dist. 14
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, FL, BA, 2013
WORK & MILITARY
U.S. Coast Guard, Petty Officer 3rd Class, 4
AFFILIATIONS
American Legion, member, Idlewild Baptist Church
member, Veterans of Foreign Wars, member
National Rifle Association, member, Tampa Bay Young Republicans
member, Coastal Conservation Association, member
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Candidate did not provide
Race
Previous Races
ENDORSEMENTS*
*These endorsements were received after the deadline and were not considered in the Panel Evaluations and are for additional educational purposes only.
CONSERVATIVE (2)
*Community Patriots Tampa
Ted Yoho
OTHER (1)
Tampa Police Benevolent Assn.
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (4)
Congressman Paul Gosar
Tampa Police Benevolent Association
Congressman Ted Yoho (retired 2021)
Clearwater Mayor Frank Hibbard
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (1)
Ashley Moody (2022)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
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?
Under medical circumstances, a doctor should uphold his or her Hippocratic oath that they will do no harm. Trusting that the doctor would do the right thing, I would say that if a doctor determines an abortion is medically necessary, then I would leave the decision entirely up to the doctor. As a Christian, I do believe life begins at conception and that abortion should not be used as a form of birth control. However, from a legally enforceable standpoint, I would like for us to come to a consensus on when life begins. I believe, since we judge a death when the heart stops beating, I would like for us to acknowledge that life begins when a heart starts beating. That would allow for time for those victims who were raped to seek treatment. Clearly, extenuating circumstances will undoubtedly present themselves, and logic and reason should apply. I do not believe we need an anti-abortion law. I think we need a definition of life law. Also, ZERO dollars from tax payers should be spent funding organizations that provide abortion.
ECONOMY
Redistribution of income is needed to lessen the gap between the wealthy and working classes.
Strongly Disagree
Wealth without work is absolutely poison.
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?
We should eliminate the federal income tax and have a flat, national sales 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?
The government is to stay out of the church.
HEALTHCARE
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
While there are vaccines that have done a ton of good - polio, smallpox and more, I believe the government should NOT be able to force vaccines upon citizens. As a business owner, I do not agree with businesses that mandate vaccines, however, I do believe in the free market and I think private institutions and employers should be able to require whatever they want and it's up to the individual if they choose to continue working there.
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, though I believe we need to work on finding a better solution. Personally, I believe in less federal government and more states’ rights, so I would look at ways to decrease any federal regulation that causes medicine to be more expensive.
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.
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
I stand with Israel.
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?
First, we need to recognize that Islam is a serious threat to democracy and freedom. We need to expose the dishonesty of Islam.
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.
Strongly Agree
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
Anyone who follows our immigration laws. Having said that, we absolutely need to fix our broken immigration system. We need to enforce the laws we have, and strengthen our border security. However, I also think we need to be compassionate to the millions of people who were let in and used as political pawns. If people entered our country illegally, there should be consequences, but I think we could come to an arrangement that makes sense for all parties. I’d like to see the border secured, and then we can discuss the penalties and a path to citizenship. Perhaps, those who entered illegally can be placed on a type of probation, and pay a fine or penalty tax over several years, which once complete, along with a demonstration of abiding by the law and passing a citizenship test, they could be granted citizenship.
VALUES
Sexual orientation and gender identity should be protected classes in non-discrimination laws.
Strongly Agree
You were either born a man or a woman - period.
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. I believe the Bible in its entirety. I believe Jesus Christ is the son of God and that he died on a cross and rose from the dead three days later. I have repented for my sins, and believe I am forgiven because of my faith in Jesus. As a Christian, I am called to Love the Lord my God with all my heart, soul and mind, and I am called to love my neighbor as myself. Having said that, I am certainly not perfect. I make mistakes every day and God is not finished working on me! The fish does not come to the fisherman clean, the fisherman cleans the fish. God is still working on me.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
We need to ensure election integrity. We should get serious about enforcing current laws and prosecute people who disrupt our election process to the fullest extent of the law. Also, ballot harvesting should be illegal.
EQUALITY
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Strongly Disagree
No. No reparations for anyone. Grow up and get over it!
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
In some ways, yes. Ultimately, we need to stop talking about racism. The left is the worst at constantly playing the race card. They are manufacturing racism and hatred. If we were to focus on loving our neighbors, we would not have this issue.
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
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
Though, I am also pretty libertarian. I want less federal government and more freedom.
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/politics/tampa-businessman-james-judge-kathy-castor-congressional-race/67-6fc08525-0510-498e-83bc-c7350ef91aeb https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2022/01/28/kathy-castor-challenger-james-judge-hauls-in-cash-in-first-reporting-period/
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?
We need to address inflation, reduce the federal debt and restore law and order.
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.
Strongly Disagree
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
"SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED." Period.
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Strongly Disagree
