Steven "Steve" Dowell
Republican | Texas
Candidate Profile
Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Steven "Steve" Dowell
Party
Republican
Election Year
2026
Election
Republican Primary
Race
U.S. Representative 31
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Worldwide, M.B.A., 2019-2021
U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, Fort Bragg, 2017-2018
Baylor University, Waco, B.A., 2009-2013
WORK & MILITARY
U.S. Army Reserve (IRR), Major, 2021-2025
Amazon.com, Senior Product Manager, 2021-2024
U.S. Army (Active Duty), Captain, 2013-2021
AFFILIATIONS
Solid Steve, L.L.C., Founder & Inventor (The ModCon)
American Legion
Member
National Rifle Association, Former Member & Instructor
Maverick Institute Firearms Instruction
Former Founder & Instructor
With Honor Action, Pledged
U.S. Term Limits
Pledged
Texas Department of Public Safety - Handgun Licensing Program (License to Carry), Former Instructor
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
(Candidate did not provide)
OTHER INFORMATION
Candidate Q&A. Community Impact. 28 Jan 2026.
Candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025.
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
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
Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?
Only in the cases of rape, incest, or if the life of the mother is at critical risk.
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Disagree
I do not believe any federal taxpayer funds should be distributed to abortion providers. I believe the matter of abortion should be left to the individual states.
The Comstock Act, which bans interstate transportation of abortion-inducing drugs, should be enforced.
Choose not to answer
I believe the matter of abortion should be left to the individual states.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
The total withdrawal and prohibition of government influence in the practice of religion or church affairs and traditions.
NATIONAL SECURITY
With regard to America's foreign policy, which view most closely resembles yours: A) The United States should intervene whenever freedom is threatened. B) The United States should selectively help countries trying to grow democracy and fight tyranny. C) The United States has become too involved in others' policies and should remain focused on issues regarding our own sovereignty unless in imminent danger. D) The United States should stay out of foreign conflicts completely.
C. I represented the U.S. overseas in 17 countries in both Europe and Asia while in the U.S. Army, with 3 years as a War Planner. I am keenly aware of the need for America to have extended reach and influence globally to keep Americans everywhere safe, nowhere more so than here at home. I believe America must have the strongest, best trained, and most technologically advanced military in the world along with the world's most effective intelligence community, but we must put America first.
The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.
Strongly Agree
As a former U.S. War Planner and regional expert on China and the greater Indo-Pacific theater, there are few within Congress that come with my level of professional and cultural experience in understanding the threat China poses to the U.S. I was also trained by the U.S. Army to read and speak Mandarin-Chinese. The entire future of the U.S. will hinge greatly on how we decide to confront China in the coming century via diplomacy, information, economic, and military domains. We must be vigilant.
Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?
Every international relationship with the U.S. is important, but Israel stands out both as a strategic ally and, personally, as a spiritual ally. Israel is home to sites of great religious importance to many Americans, and we should acknowledge the threats that have pledged Israel's destruction. That being said, Israel is its own sovereign nation that must defend itself, but any actions that they take that put Americans, our interests, or our global security at risk should be warned against.
Islamic terrorism is a threat to the United States' national security.
Strongly Agree
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. I feel that Congress can lower healthcare costs overall by expanding private-market choice and competition (where competition breeds excellence), allowing people to save tax-free through Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), and strengthening Medicare and Medicaid integrity through more rigorous eligibility checks and audits to protect against fraud, waste, and abuse while safeguarding care for those who truly need it.
The government should keep a database of people with various ongoing medical illnesses to assess the economic burden of treatment.
Neutral
I am a believer in big-data and how it shapes our decision making for the better, but nobody should have their private information taken from them, shared, or used in any way without their consent. I believe people should only "opt-in" to a database for medical illnesses if they choose to help national research efforts, with the option to withdraw at any time. They should never have to "opt-out" after already being enrolled without their consent. I will always commit to what our voters want.
ECONOMY
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
People who can afford to pay more taxes should do so in order to provide relief for working families.
Disagree
We are overtaxed as it is, and our federal government overspends our tax dollars every year. Working families already work hard to earn their dollars and I believe we should reduce federal overspending and the national debt, in order to greatly reduce federal income taxes altogether.
The government should cut spending in order to reduce the national debt.
Strongly Agree
Using my experience in managing multi-billion dollar and international budgets at Amazon, in my first term I will create support for and sponsor my innovative "Incremental Debt Down Act" (currently proposed in detail on my website) that will statutorily require the federal government to incrementally reduce our deficit and our national debt every year, without breaking our economy or critical government programs.
List your top 3-5 priorities to eliminate government waste.
I will seek to: 1. Pass my "Incremental Debt Down Act" through Congress 2. Implement term limits on Congress and ban member ownership of individual stocks 3. Reform permitting with one-stop dockets and shot clocks, cutting federal red-tape placed on our industries and businesses 4. Stop Congress from siphoning funds intended for the states' water resources to unrelated district focused projects 5. Join the U.S. House's "DOGE" Caucus to identify other areas of waste and act to eliminate them
IMMIGRATION
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
Anyone who wishes to immigrate into the U.S. should always do so legally. I believe, as a nation of immigrants ourselves, we can allow individuals to immigrate into the U.S. as long as three conditions exist: that they are adding value to our society, that they respect our Constitution and individual rights, and that we have the resources to support their immigration without sacrificing those for current inhabitants (water, power, employment, etc.). We can dial up or down immigration as needed.
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
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Government has a responsibility to protect children from sexual exploitation during online activities.
Strongly Agree
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
I am against nearly all limitations on the 2nd amendment. As a seasoned firearms and concealed carry instructor, hunter, competitive shooter, and former police officer, I believe gun rights need expanding not restriction. We should pass legislation that will afford national constitutional carry and reciprocity to all citizens and the repeal of the NFA, Brady Act, the Hughes Amendment, and to reduce the GCA's scope. Background checks and red flag laws do not work, and are anti-2nd amendment.
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.
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
VALUES
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.
Choose not to answer
The federal government made a mistake when it got involved in our churches and practice of religion, including civil unions. I believe there should be a total withdrawal and prohibition of government influence in the practice of religion or church affairs and traditions.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior as a teenager at the Heart of Texas Baptist Camp in Brownwood, Texas—where I developed a strong personal understanding of God’s purpose for my life. I am as God made me, and I thank Him daily for my life, my success, and for the great personal satisfaction and fulfillment I receive from serving and sacrificing for others.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
EQUALITY
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
What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?
In the short term, traditional nuclear power, augmented with renewables, battery storage, natural gas, and oil. In the medium term, small modular nuclear reactors. In the long term, nuclear fusion. America should lead the world in energy innovation.
