James DeHart
Democrat | Washington
Candidate Profile
Liberal (Conditional)
BIOGRAPHY
Name
James DeHart
Party
Democrat
Election Year
2022
Election
Primary & Secretary of State Special
Race
State Rep., Dist. 35 - Pos. 1
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
University of Montana, Missoula MT, Music, 2006
WORK & MILITARY
Candidate did not provide
AFFILIATIONS
Capitol Playhouse, Pit Musician, Olympia Musical Theatre
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
State Employee, 2008-2021
Mason County Employee, 2022 - Present
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Candidate did not provide
ENDORSEMENTS
LIBERAL (3)
Mason County Democrats, Washington
Thurston County Democrats
Whole Washington
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (4)
Mason County Democrats
Thurston County Democrats
Kitsap County Democratic Women
35th LD Democrats
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (3)
Democratic Women's Groups (2022)
Kamala Harris (2019)
State Democratic Party Organizations (2021)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
Rape, Incest, life of the mother being in jeopardy and before the third trimester. Basically, Roe v. Wade.
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Disagree
I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Strongly Agree
ECONOMY
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
We need to have a progressive capital gains tax, wealth tax and inheritance tax for families with Millions of dollars in inheritance.
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
Military spending is out of control and needs to be reigned in. Primarily in the way of planes, tanks and other military vehicles.
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Strongly Agree
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Agree
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
None, really.
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.
A
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
Under all. It is a public health issue and government should lead by example.
NATIONAL SECURITY
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
Pretty much already doing it. We need to focus on radical racist terrorism here in the USA. We have a huge network of possible domestic terrorists under the guise of racial cleansing.
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.
Agree
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Disagree
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
All should be allowed and laws and rules should be followed. The poem on the statue of Liberty says it all: Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!
EDUCATION
I support school choice, including voucher programs, tax credits, charter schools, private schools, and home schools.
Disagree
I believe in public education and only public funding should go to public schools. If parents want to send their children to private schools, that should be up to the parents to provide funding.
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Strongly Disagree
I support adding gender identity as a specially protected class in non-discrimination laws.
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 Disagree
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Agree
The wording here is inflammatory. It should say that institutions have rules that may include racial discrimination. They are not all fundamentally racist.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am agnostic.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Agree
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
I would have the entire country vote by mail only. More people vote that way and it is the safest and most secure way to vote.
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Yes, racism is hatred, which leads to violence, discrimination and death.
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Agree
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.
B
I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.
Disagree
ABOUT YOU
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
To help the people it serves. Truly as simple as that.
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 Liberal
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
I do not have any interviews currently. First time candidate here and have not yet sat down to talk with the media yet. Looking forward to it!
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 am running to help people. I want the 35th LD to be the best district in the state of Washington. We are facing a moment that demands a seismic change in leadership, and it begins right now in the 35th LD. I am running because I believe that my background as a 14-year public servant will bring a unique perspective when it comes to implementing new laws. As a former administrator, I know the struggles that can arise while implementing a new law or program with little to no direction from our legislators. I am running to fully fund education so that we will have better facilities, books, and supplies, and so our teachers can be paid fairly. The supreme court said that we need to fully fund education. Let’s fully fund our educational system to make it the best that it can be! We also need to bring in new green energy jobs and resources. As well as sustainable forestry jobs so that future generations have a working and thriving job market right here in the 35th. Climate change is real and is a threat to our entire planet. We need legislators that will understand the urgency and work to reverse as much damage as we can before it is too late. It’s time for all our legislators to take this seriously. I believe that all Americans are at their best when they have a good paying and secure job, a roof over their heads, and food on the table. That is why I support workers’ rights, and I will work for every opportunity to help our unions protect and fight for fair bargaining and better working conditions. Because a lot of the 35th LD is spread out and primarily rural, we need to up our support of social safety net programs for those who are the most vulnerable and remote in our district. These folks need these programs to survive and thrive. We all benefit when we take care of our neighbors and our community. Western Washington is truly one of the most diverse areas of the country, and I find that the 35th LD is certainly no exception! Our diversity makes us strong, and I know the importance of having a legislature that will support the rights of minorities to live free from persecution, violence, and hate. As a member of the LGBTQ+IA Community, I will work every day to protect my LGBTQ+IA family from legislation aimed to harm, humiliate, and marginalize their lives and who they are for no other purpose of hatred and political gain. I will celebrate our BIPOC population and protect them from bills that would aim to displace, suppress, and disenfranchise them from not only voting, but getting a job, a mortgage, a business loan, or housing aid. This deferential and discriminatory treatment of the most vulnerable in our district must end. With the leaked supreme court draft opinion on abortion out there, there is a lot of fear going around right now. And it is justified. Not only will this ruling overrule Roe. It will lead to the overruling of Obergefell (same-sex marriage), Loving (interracial marriage), Lawrence (privacy) and more. All these cases were decided under the equal protection clause of the 14th amendment of the US Constitution. I fear for the women in this country over this decision. It will bring back high mortality rates for women during pregnancy and birth. It will likely go after contraception use as well. Make no mistake, this will take away women’s right to make their own medical decisions in more ways than just abortion. Keep watching because the LGBTQ+IA community is next on Alito’s chopping block. We cannot allow this to happen to our state. Luckily, in 1970, Washington State legalized abortion and that has been the law of the land since. That doesn’t mean that if the Republican party were to gain power over the legislature and governor’s office, they wouldn’t immediately repeal the abortion laws in this state. They are actively doing it in states like Florida, Oklahoma and Texas. My opponent has consistently voted against abortion protections in 2015 and in 2018 and will most definitely vote against it again if given the chance. If you want to elect pro-choice legislators, the time is now! The 35th LD has three candidates that will work to protect the rights of all in our state. My opponent, as shown by his votes, will not. Not only have I spent 14 years as a state employee, but public service has also always been a part of my life as I have a wonderful mom who served as an elected official for 27 years in my childhood state of Montana. Now I am excited to continue that legacy of service as the next legislative representative from the great 35th district.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Police officers should be personally immune from prosecution for conduct consistent with departmental policy (qualified immunity) while on duty.
Strongly Disagree
I support redirecting funds from police departments to mental health and community programs.
Strongly Agree
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
Weapons of war should not be accessible by the general public. I.E. AK-47 or AR-15.
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Strongly Agree
