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Don McLaughlin

Republican | Texas

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Candidate Profile*

Don McLaughlin — State Representative 80 (Texas Republican Primary | March 3, 2026) Don McLaughlin — State Rep., Dist. 80 (Texas General | November 5, 2024) Don McLaughlin — State Rep., Dist. 80 (Texas Primary | March 5, 2024)
State Representative, District 80 Texas General and Special General SD 22 | November 3, 2026
Ratings & research below apply to this race only — Select to see 3 other races

Conservative

*Additional information appears below for educational purposes; however, only data received prior to the candidate deadline was considered during Panel Evaluation.

BIOGRAPHY

EDUCATION

Candidate did not provide

WORK & MILITARY

DKM Enterprises, Co-Founder/President, 2000-

AFFILIATIONS

Cactus Jack Foundation, Founding Member

POLITICAL OFFICES HELD

Texas House of Representatives, House District 80, 2024-

Mayor of Uvalde, 2014-2023

POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT

Re-Election to the Texas House of Representatives

ENDORSEMENTS*

*These endorsements were received after the deadline and were not considered in the Panel Evaluations and are for additional educational purposes only.
CONSERVATIVE (10)

Texas Right to Life TRL PAC

National Rifle Association NRA-PVF

Texas Home School Coalition THSC PAC

Texas Values Action

Life PAC

LIBERAL (1)

Houston Police Officers Union PAC

OTHER (6)

Greg Abbott

Texas Oil and Gas Association TXOGA PAC

Texas Association of Business TXBIZ PAC

Texas Alliance for Life TAL PAC

*Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas CLEAT PAC

SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS

CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (16)

Don McLaughlin (2025)

Leigh Wambsganss (2025)

Local, County, District Republican Organizations (2025)

National Republican Senatorial Committee (2025)

Republican National Committee (2025)

RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (39)

Don McLaughlin (2025)

Alan Schoolcraft (2024)

Brent Money (2024)

Briscoe Cain (2024)

Cody Vasut (2024)


LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (0)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (2)

Texas Sands (2026)

Texas Trial Lawyers Association (2024)

OTHER INFORMATION

The 2025 Texas House from right to left according to analysis by Rice University’s James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy. 

The 2023 Texas House from right to left according to analysis by Rice University’s James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy. 

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?

Did not answer

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?

I believe wages should be driven by a strong Texas economy, not government mandates. In the Legislature, I’ll keep fighting for low taxes and fewer regulations so businesses can grow and create better paying jobs.

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.

Fully implement Texas DOGE, cut outdated regulations, hold agencies accountable for every tax dollar, consolidate duplicative programs, and use technology to make government more efficient and responsive.


RELIGIOUS LIBERTY

What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?

Our Constitution protects the church from government interference, not government from people of faith. I will always defend religious liberty and every American’s right to live out their faith freely.

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.

C. Medicaid and Medicare should remain available for those who qualify, but government run healthcare is not the answer. We should strengthen private sector competition, expand patient choice, lower costs, and protect rural access to care.

The government should keep a database of people with various ongoing medical illnesses to assess the economic burden of treatment.

Strongly Disagree

Government should not maintain a database tracking Texans by their medical conditions. Healthcare data should remain private. Any analysis of treatment costs should rely only on anonymous, aggregated data.


NATIONAL SECURITY

The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.

Strongly Agree

Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?

Israel is America’s strongest ally in the Middle East and shares our commitment to freedom and democracy. Supporting Israel strengthens our national security and helps confront Iran, terrorism, and other threats to both nations.


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

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.

Neutral

Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.

I am a proud Christian, and my faith guides how I live, lead, and serve others. I believe in honoring God, protecting life, strengthening families, treating others with dignity, and leading with integrity.


ELECTIONS AND VOTING

People should be able to vote without photo identification.

Strongly Disagree


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


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?

Nuclear energy. It provides reliable, around-the-clock power without depending on the weather. Texas should expand nuclear generation as part of an all-of-the-above strategy to meet growing demand and keep electricity affordable.


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

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?

The goal of the criminal justice system is to protect law-abiding citizens, uphold the rule of law, deliver justice for victims, and ensure criminals face swift and certain consequences for their actions.

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


2ND AMENDMENT

What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?

We do not need new restrictions on law-abiding gun owners. We need to enforce existing laws, keep firearms out of the hands of violent criminals, improve mental health resources, and strengthen school security while defending the Second Amendment.

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