Ricky Caldwell

Republican | Mississippi

Candidate Profile

Conservative

BIOGRAPHY

Name

Ricky Caldwell


Party

Republican


Election Year

2023


Election

Primary


Race

State Senate, Dist. 9


Incumbent

No


Links

Ricky Caldwell websites Facebook

EDUCATION

Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Forestry

WORK & MILITARY

Candidate did not provide

AFFILIATIONS

Lafayette County Republican Party, County Executive Committee Member

POLITICAL OFFICES HELD

Candidate did not provide

POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT

Candidate did not provide

Race

ENDORSEMENTS

CONSERVATIVE (2)

Mississippi Freedom Caucus

Restore-Liberty

OTHER (1)

Mississippi Parents for Vaccine Rights (MPVR)

REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (2)

Mississippi Freedom Caucus

Mississippi Parents for Vaccine Rights

SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS

CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (1)

WinRed (2020)

RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)

OTHER INFORMATION

Caldwell completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey survey in 2023

QUESTIONNAIRE

RIGHT TO LIFE

Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?

Abortion should never be allowed. I am someone who firmly believes that life begins at conception.

I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.

Strongly Disagree

Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants and Medicaid funding).

Strongly Agree


ECONOMY

What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?

I believe one change that needs to be made is abolishing the income tax. Inflation is through the roof, and I believe Mississippians should be able to keep their dollars in their pockets.

What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?

We need to reduce government spending in many areas, specifically in places like healthcare, welfare, and projects that implement leftist propaganda in the workplace and our schools.


RELIGIOUS LIBERTY

Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.

Strongly Disagree

Under what circumstances should government close churches?

There is no circumstance where it should ever be acceptable for the government to force a church to close its doors.


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 options (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 the government should reform healthcare to maximize private health insurance options; D) Taxpayer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be defunded.

C. Medicaid and Medicare should remain available only through an audited process for those who truly need it.

Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?

There are no circumstances where I believe this should be allowed.


NATIONAL SECURITY

What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?

We need to strengthen our military. Our military has historically been incredibly strong, but with the vaccine mandates and the failures of the current administration, our military is not what it once was. I also believe that securing our border is imperative to every aspect of our national security.


IMMIGRATION

The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.

Strongly Agree

Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?

I have no problem with legal immigration. If someone goes through the proper steps to become a U.S. citizen, they should be permitted to immigrate.


EDUCATION

The state should prioritize education funding by allowing dollars to follow the child instead of focusing on programs and administrators.

Strongly Agree

If you support giving parents more educational options, please list all of the following options that apply and in priority order: A) A universal Education Savings Account (ESA) program; B) An ESA program for low-income children only; C) Expanding tax credits for businesses to give to private schools; D) Expanding public charter schools; E) Allowing homeschoolers to take classes at the local public school.

A, D, E

What most closely matches your view on pornography? A) I agree with the American Library Association that any person of any age should have access to any book; B) Library collections, displays and events should be curated using age-appropriate guidelines, similar to what we do for movies (G, PG, R, etc.); C) Mississippi libraries should follow state laws that prevent pornography from being accessible to minors.

C


VALUES

What most closely matches your view on marriage? A) Anything goes; B) Marriage between one man and one woman should be promoted and encouraged; C) A divorce should be hard to get; D) Marriage is important, but no-fault divorce should be allowed.

B

Judeo-Christian values establish a framework of morality that is necessary for our system of limited government.

Strongly Agree

I support adding gender identity as a specially protected class in non-discrimination laws.

Strongly Disagree

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 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 and a proud father. I believe that honesty is paramount, especially in business and government.


ELECTIONS AND VOTING

People should be able to vote without photo identification.

Strongly Disagree

What most closely matches your view on ballot measures? A) Ballot measures should be able to amend the constitution with few, if any, restrictions; B) Ballot measures should only be able to propose changes to laws when signatures are collected from people all across the state; C) The current process of allowing the Legislature to propose constitutional amendments will result in the best outcomes.

B


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?

I do not believe that racism is a threat to domestic security in our nation. I believe that our nation is a land of equal opportunity.


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.

A


ABOUT YOU

What do you think is the general purpose of government?

The purpose of government is to safeguard the freedoms of the individual.

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.

No.

What else would you like voters to know about you, including your legislative priorities?

My biggest legislative priorities are abolishing the income tax, restoring education, and defending conservative values.


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?

No restrictions are needed.

Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.

Strongly Disagree

If you are not already receiving our emails, stay up to date with important election alerts, educational articles, and encouraging reminders.

I agree to receive text messages at the phone number provided.