Pat Dixon
Libertarian | Texas
Candidate Profile
Moderate
BIOGRAPHY
EDUCATION
Miami University, Oxford, OH, BS Paper Science and Engineering, 1982-1987
WORK & MILITARY
Honeywell, Project Manager/Control Engineer, 1987-1997
Pavilion Technologies, Advanced Control Engineer, 1997-1998
DuPont, Process Control Engineer (contract), 1998-2001
Advanced System Integration, Project Manager, Project Lead, 2001-2003
Emerson, Advanced Control Consultant, 2004-2014
Global Process Automation, Southwest Region Engineering Manager, 2017-2020
Pulmac Systems International, Vice President and General Manager, Instrumentation and Automation, 2021-2024
DPAS Inc, President, 1999-2026
AFFILIATIONS
Miami University Pulp and Paper Foundation, Chair, Academic committee, 2016-2026
Libertarian Party of Texas, Chair, 2004-2014
Panoramic Voices, President, Board of Directors, 2002-2015
Central Texas TrailTamers, President, Board of Directors, 2002-2015
Central Texas TrailTamers, President, Board of Directors, 2025-2026
Miami University Pulp and Paper Foundation, Board of Trustees, 2012-2014
Libertarian Party National Committee, At large member, 2006-2010
Libertarian Party Judicial Committee, Committee member, 2026-2026
International Society of Automation, Chair, Digital Twin and Simulation committee, 2023-2026
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Lago Vista City Council, 2005-2007
Lago Vista City Council, 2007-2009
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Texas Senate district 14, 2020-2020
Travis County Commissioner, precinct 3, 2012-2012
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (2)
Raul Torres (2014)
Bob Barr (2008)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (1)
Chase Oliver (2024)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
OTHER INFORMATION
Dixon completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026.
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
I consider myself pro-life, but I am not a single issue candidate and I do not have plans to address this issue in the governors office. I do not think there are simple answers to vexing ethical questions in which my Catholic faith is pitted against separation of church and state.
Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?
When there is a difficult choice to be made, such as the life of the mother in a medical emergency, doctors and adults should be able to make the choice without politicians being involved
Human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.
Neutral
I personally agree with the statement, but as governor I do not intend to impose my religion or morality on others. There is a declining abortion trend in Texas, which is good. I am hoping this continues, but I hope this is accomplished by offering persuasion and options such as adoption in contrast to police actions.
The lives of human embryos created through artificial methods ought to be protected from purposeful destruction.
Neutral
I personally do not believe life should be discarded when someone else finds it inconvenient. I support Ross Perot’s statement on this during a presidential debate. I am reluctant to extend protections that would exclude promising medical research, but I question the ethics of using human lives for this purpose.
The Comstock Act, which bans interstate transportation of abortion-inducing drugs, should be enforced.
Disagree
It is not interstate commerce that is the issue here. It is an ethical question of policy that considers individual liberty for all concerned, which includes mother, father, and child
ECONOMY
What is your position on the minimum wage?
I oppose for the same reasons Milton Friedman explained long ago
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
As a Libertarian, I am the strongest opponent of socialism of the 3 candidates on the ballot. I support Free Market Sustainability (https://patdixon.org/free-market-sustainability/)
List your top 3-5 priorities to eliminate government waste.
- End corporate welfare, replace it with Free Market Sustainability (https://patdixon.org/ai-data-centers/) - Eliminate useless programs, such as requiring inspections of scales at BBQ restaurants (https://www.texasmonthly.com/bbq/weighing-your-options/) - Makes taxes go to their intended purpose, such as eliminating the siphoning of the fuel tax (https://patdixon.org/texas-transportation/)
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
It is an absolute requirement that I will enforce. Texas law will not be replaced with Christian, Jewish, Sharia, or any other form of religious law
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
I am a Libertarian and will defend the rights of the individual to be free of coerced services
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.
In a perfect world I support D, but if I am elected governor I support C since these are federal requirements that the governor cannot revoke.
The government should keep a database of people with various ongoing medical illnesses to assess the economic burden of treatment.
Strongly Disagree
I cannot support the burden imposed on taxpayers to fund a database that can threaten the privacy of individuals
NATIONAL SECURITY
The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.
Strongly Agree
This is not pertinent to the office of governor of Texas, but it is obvious China is a threat
Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?
This is not pertinent to the office of governor of Texas
IMMIGRATION
I support the existence of sanctuary cities to protect undocumented persons.
Disagree
To be clear, a sanctuary city does not want its local law enforcement resources used for federal efforts. I support local control and the ability of cities to prioritize their resources. However, I believe there should be cooperation where possible. I do not support the current means by which ICE is enforcing immigration policy and would resist cooperation when the rights of Texans are threatened
EDUCATION
I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving control back to states and communities.
Strongly Agree
This is federal policy, but as governor I would support it
Foreign governments should be prohibited from funding American education.
Agree
I confess I am not aware of this happening in Texas. If it is happening, we would welcome funding with no strings attached and no indoctrination. If it takes control away from parents and teachers I oppose it
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
My position on education is fully explained (https://patdixon.org/parent-teacher-empowerment/). The same applies to health
Attempts to physically or socially transition a child to the opposite sex constitute child abuse.
Neutral
There may be cases where there is consent of the parents and child with professional supervision, and I would be reluctant to intervene. If there is not consent of the parents for a minor I oppose.
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 prefer government not interfere with relationships.
I support the expansion of gambling in my state.
Agree
Laws that prohibit or constrain gambling are unenforceable. Like alcohol, abuse can lead to addiction but addiction treatment is better handled when it is not government imposing penalties and providing treatment
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a Catholic that will not impose my religion on others
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Disagree
I support voter verification, but this could be handled with biometrics on the voter identification. See https://patdixon.org/election-integrity/, https://patdixon.org/approval-voting/, https://patdixon.org/non-partisan-redistricting/
EQUALITY
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Strongly Disagree
We could have reparations for Indians, women, Irish, Chinese, Japanese, and every other group that has suffered oppression. This would be nonsense. The Civil War was the penance paid for the sin of slavery.
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.
Agree
I agree with the policy, but last time there was a documented issue in Texas was when Mack Beggs, who was assigned female at birth, won the state wrestling championship as a girl in 2017 and 2018. I don't know that this is a big problem in Texas.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Man-made climate change is a global threat and requires urgent political action.
Neutral
I have been skeptical of the claims, but like Bjorn Lomborg (https://lomborg.com/) I believe evidence supports the claim that human activity is causing global warming. On the other side is Patrick Moore (https://co2coalition.org/teammember/director-patrick-moore/) that presents a compelling counter argument
What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?
My favorite is geothermal, but it is not a good fit for Texas. I think nuclear is the best long term option, but I prefer it be market forces that drive the solution.
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?
Moderate
None of these is correct because it assumes the choices are linear. The Nolan Chart (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nolan_chart) is the right way to answer this. I am LIBERTARIAN
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?
To protect the rights of the innocent by punishing the guilty
Government has a responsibility to protect children from sexual exploitation during online activities.
Agree
I agree but parents should take the lead. Government should be involved if there are coercive means to harm vulnerable people.
Sharia law should not be accepted or incorporated in any form within the legal framework of the United States.
Strongly Agree
I agree, but this issue is a scare tactic. No courts in Texas have replaced Texas law with Sharia law (https://patdixon.org/texas-muslims/)
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
As a Libertarian, I defend the ability to defend, hunt, compete, collect, and other uses of guns that do not initiate force (https://patdixon.org/guns/)
