Chris Henning
Republican | Illinois
Candidate Profile
Conservative (Conditional)
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Chris Henning
Party
Republican
Election Year
2024
Election
General
Race
State Rep., Dist. 59
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Boston University School of Law, Boston, MA, JD, 2000
University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN, BA, 1988
Trinity College, Carmarthen, Dyfed, Wales, UK, Study Abroad, 1986-87
WORK & MILITARY
U.S. Army, Legal Specialist, Specialist (E4), 1992-1995
AFFILIATIONS
Knights of Columbus, Past Grand Knight, American Legion
Member, DAV, Member
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Candidate did not provide
ENDORSEMENTS
OTHER (2)
Lake County Republican Party
Republicans of Wheeling Township
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?
Life of the Mother
Chemical abortion drugs should meet essential safety standards (such as in-person consultation with a medical doctor) and require reporting to gather evidence on reactions and outcomes.
Strongly Agree
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Agree
I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Strongly Disagree
ECONOMY
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
What is your position on the minimum wage?
While a minimum wage should exist, it needs to reflect the economic realities of the positions offering minimum wage. An inflated minimum wage risks the loss of jobs, harm to small businesses, and increased economic pressures.
Should environmental and social issues, like ESG (environmental, social, and governance) ratings, be used as criteria in deciding where to invest public monies?
No
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
Generally never, however were a church to be found, by a court of competent jurisdiction, after exhausting all appeals, to not be acting within its faith's doctrinal guidelines, with intent to defraud the public and its members, it might be a last resort.
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
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
Government, Schools, and Employers should be highly limited in requiring vaccinations, especially with experimental vaccines lacking empirical evidence of efficacy, and any attempts to do so need to account for religious and good faith exemptions.
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?
Yes! Israel stands as our loyal ally, a strong democracy in a region otherwise devoid of democracies. A nation who has been attacked time and again and still stands strong.
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Strongly Agree
We, as a nation, cannot allow the continued sieve that exists at our southern border. It is not sustainable, many of those crossing are intentionally abusing asylum claims, stressing communities across the country, and without vetting present security risks to the nation as a whole. More also needs to be done at the northern border as well.
EDUCATION
The state should fund education by allowing dollars to follow the child through programs which protect parents' freedom to choose their child's school – public, private, or homeschool.
Strongly Agree
Illinois should never have allowed the Invest in Kids program to lapse, but rather should have expanded it! Our tax dollars are being wasted based on dollars per student spent at many of our schools and the results produced. The children need to to be offered an opportunity to succeed and school choice provides a hope they can.
VALUES
Children are the most vulnerable members of society and must be protected from abuse, including gender ideology, grooming, and bodily mutilation.
Strongly Agree
Parents should have the right to make decisions for their minor children.
Strongly Agree
In law school we were taught that the parents or guardians of a child were responsible for them till they reached the age of majority or were emancipated. It is not the place of the State to indoctrinate our children.
Taxpayer funds should be used to provide gender transition services.
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
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
A Catholic, raised and practicing the faith, progressing through parochial elementary, junior high school, high school, and undergraduate university (excepting study abroad in college and kindergarten and 1st grade)
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
States should join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact which makes the Electoral College irrelevant.
Strongly Disagree
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Racism has no place in Illinois or America, what is seen currently in practice, through DEI and CRT programs, too often appear to to burry and excuse racist acts as justified or restorative. They can and have created security issues by burring facts and discouraging honest discussions, which harm all of us.
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Strongly Disagree
As an undergraduate History major, I was lucky enough to have my first History professor teach and explain, very early, many of the then existing history theories. CRT is only one of many theories, though is is being stressed and delivered as empirical fact in too many instances, though based largely on samplings of anecdotal evidence and feelings, and not as the theory it is and not explaining its Marxist basis, substituting the class aspects of Conflict Theory with race.
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
This goes without saying. It undermines the hard earned protections of Title IX women have earned.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Which comes closest to your view? (Select all that apply) A) Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy. B) Stricter environmental laws and regulations are worth the cost. C) Stricter environmental laws undermine U.S. energy independence and deter development of reliable electricity sources. D) Climate change is real and requires urgent policy action.
A & C, while intentional waste should be discouraged, present policies, in particular attempting to follow or adopt California's guidelines and mandates are foolhardy, impractical and unattainable withing the targets mandated.
What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?
Current sources are reliable and can be improved, nuclear is a potentially economically viable expansion with current technology. In the Midwest, solar is not a true practical replacement source. Wind is also not financially viable without subsidies.
ABOUT YOU
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
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
Government exists to serve the citizens they govern.
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
Some may place me further to the right.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
I support redirecting funds from police departments to community programs.
Strongly Disagree
As a former police officer, graduate of the Chicago Police Academy, a Legal Specialist in the Army, a member of Boston University's Criminal Clinical Program, an intern with the District Attorney, Student Prosecutor with the District Attorney, Member of Boston University's National Criminal Procedure Moot Court Team, having taught Intro to Criminal Justice, and seeing what is before all of our eyes, it does not work!
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
Enforcement of the existing criminal statutes, for those committing crimes against the public. In general, law abiding citizens, consistent with Bruen and Heller, and the Nation's historical record relative to the 2nd Amendment should be minimally restricted.
Should teachers be allowed to carry guns at school?
Yes
If trained.
