
Joseph D. Fox
Republican | Michigan
Candidate Profile*
Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Joseph D. Fox
Party
Republican
Election Year
2026
Election
Primary
Race
State Senator, Dist., 33
Incumbent
No
EDUCATION
Spring Arbor University, Spring Arbor, MI, BA in Religion/Philosophy & Psychology, 1972-1976
Calvin Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids, MI, Masters of Divinity, 1977-1982
Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI, MA in Counseling Psychology & Teaching Certificate, 1987-1991
Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI, Professional Degree in Educational Leadership, 2010-2014
WORK & MILITARY
Candidate did not provide
AFFILIATIONS
United Brethren in Christ, Licensed Pastor, 1978-1979
Christian Reformed Church, Ordained Minister & World Missions, Education & Church Planting, 1981-1985
Kalamazoo Christian High School, School Pastor & Bible Teacher, 1985-1997
Christian Reformed Church, Home Missionary Church Planter, 1997-2002
Harbor Light Christian School, Petoskey, MI, Administrator & Teacher, 2002-2006
Fremont Christian School, Michigan, Principal & Teacher, 2006 -2012
Mitchell Christian School, South Dakota, Administrator & Teacher, 2012-2014
Newaygo County Commission on Aging, Director, 2014-2022
State of Michigan, State Representative, 2023-2026
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
State Representative, 2023-2026
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
State Senator, 2026-2030
SCORECARDS
CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS
2023-2024
100%
2025
88%, 92%†
2023-2024
|100%
2025
|88%, 92%†
LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS
2023-2024
26%
2025-2026
0%, 15% (cum.)†
2025
4%
2023-2024
|26%
2025-2026
|0%, 15% (cum.)†
ENDORSEMENTS*
CONSERVATIVE (3)
*Citizens for Traditional Values
Right to Life of Michigan PLM-PAC
Newaygo County Grassroots
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (10)
Newaygo County Grassroots
Patrick Colbeck
Pastor Lorenzo Sewell
Dr. Ormand Hook
Randall Hekman
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (7)
Andy Shaver (2024)
Jason Woolford (2024)
Newaygo County Grassroots (2024)
State Republican Party Organizations (2024)
Kristina Karamo (2022)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (14)
Rich Vance (2025)
Michigan Education Partners (2024)
Michigan Health Choice Alliance (2024)
Michigan Motorcycle Riders PAC (2024)
Beeler Majority Fund (2022)
OTHER INFORMATION
Joseph Fox completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection Survey in 2022.
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?
None The "life of the mother" argument is an extremely rare reality and is a cover for convenience. We are fearfully and wonderfully made.
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?
Minimum wage should be driven by Capitalism and the market, i.e., not controlled by the State.
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. Reduce fraud and abuse in our budgets. 2. Eliminate "ghost jobs", i.e., jobs that have no person in the position but money is still being paid to particular bureaus. 3. Reduce and/or eliminate property taxes. 4. Reduce and/or eliminate bureaucracy and regulations. We are overcontrolled by "unelected bureaucrats."
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
The state is NOT sovereign over the church. The state may not mandate churches to close. A church is not under control of the government. The kingdom of God stands above the state.
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
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.
A mixture of C and D. C for the meeting the needs of those who are truly in need. We should work toward eliminating as much government funding as possible. Government-funding is actually money out of the pockets of the taxpayers.
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
I joined the No-Gotion movement in Western Michigan that kept a Chinese battery factory from being built.
Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?
Yes. I stand with Israel based upon the Word of God and the fact that they are our greatest allies in the Middle East.
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
We must also work toward eliminating the Blaine Amendment in the Michigan Constitution. We need to make every effort to make parents in the local situations responsible for their children's education.
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
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 have been a Jesus Follower for over 60 years. God, our Father, is Holy. Jesus, the Son, is our Savior and Friend. Holy Spirit, who lives within us, is our Comforter and Guide. The kingdom of God was proclaimed and inaugurated by Jesus Christ. The government is upon His shoulders. The kingdom is advancing as people both believe in and grow in Jesus. Our mission is to be His disciples and to lead others to Jesus. My values are based upon the Word of God. As a patriot (not a politician), I am "Fox Fighting for Faith, Family, and Freedom." My grid for living and voting is asking the question, "Is this right, true, loving, admirable, excellent, praiseworthy, and of a good report." My desire is to glorify the Lord in all that I am, say and do.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
I am the vice chair of the House Election Integrity Committee and stand for a return to the good election practices that we held to previously in Michigan. I stand for the passing of the SAVE America Act.
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
I have written a bill that passed the House in Michigan (HB 4024) called the Student Restroom Privacy Act. It is currently stuck in the Senate.
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?
Natural Gas Solar and Wind are man-made experiments.
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
I am well right of center.
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?
It should be a balance of justice, protection of the populace, and opportunity for reformation of behavior.
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
I support legislation that would keep Sharia and any other form of law that violates our Constitution out of our states and nation. Islam is best thought of as a political ideology masquerading as a religion. Jihad is at its foundation.
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
As a member of the NRA who is supported by various gun groups in Michigan, I believe that convicted felons and mentally unstable individuals should be prohibited from owning guns. "When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns." I put together a package of 5 bills (HB 5653-5657) supporting Constitutional Carry that is on the docket for Judiciary Committee hearing in June 2026 in Michigan.
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