
Marisela "MJ" Jimenez
Democrat | Texas
Candidate Profile*
Liberal
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Marisela "MJ" Jimenez
Party
Democrat
Election Year
2024
Election
General
Race
State Rep., Dist. 150
Incumbent
No
EDUCATION
University of Phoenix, Phoenix, PhD, 2016
WORK & MILITARY
HR & Human Talent Management Consultant
AbrirUp LLC, Founder
AFFILIATIONS
SISD, Mentor, KISD
Volunteer, Education for Tomorrow, Business Leader
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
n/a
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
State Representative, TX HD 150, 2024
ENDORSEMENTS*
LIBERAL (10)
Texas Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation, AFL-CIO
Texas AFL-CIO
Inseparable Mental Health Now
Area 5 Democrats
Climate Cabinet
OTHER (2)
Mothers Against Greg Abbott PAC
Candidates for Common Good
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (3)
ActBlue (2024)
Tejano Democrats (2024)
Local, County, and District Democratic Organizations (2023)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (1)
ActBlue (2023)
OTHER INFORMATION
Candidate
completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024.
Candidate Q&A. "Get to know the candidates running for Texas House District 150." Community Impact. 18 Sept 2024.
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?
Elective abortion should be permissible in cases of involuntary pregnancy resulting from rape or incest. It should also be allowed when the pregnancy endangers the physical or mental health of the pregnant individual, or when the fetus has severe or fatal anomalies that are not compatible with life.
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.
Agree
Elected officials in government are tasked with representing the populace and safeguarding their constitutional rights. However, they do not have the authority to impose their personal beliefs, fears, judgments, or positional power to override the free will of individuals who possess inalienable rights. To encroach upon human free will is to usurp the role of their creator, their parents, and their self-governing consciousness that aspires to live a life free from oppressive governance.
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Disagree
Many elected officials use taxpayer money to advance the diverse, profit-driven agendas of lobbyists, often disregarding human well-being, animal welfare, and environmental health. Since taxpayer funds belong to the citizens rather than the government, it stands to reason that taxpayers should have a say in how their money is spent.
I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Neutral
The choice between life and death should not lie in the hands of elected officials. They should not interfere with the decision-making process of families who are dealing with the agony of a loved one who has chosen to end their life due to an accident, illness, or other reasons. Such a decision is a personal and private matter that should be honored by those not involved.
ECONOMY
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Agree
Taxpayer money should be equitably allocated to bolster economic development and prevent the high rate of business failures, which often exceed 80 percent due to a lack of proper knowledge, skills, and core competencies required for starting a business or pursuing innovative objectives that enhance personal and local economies of scale.
What is your position on the minimum wage?
Minimum wages ought to be in sync with the growth of the Gross Domestic Product and tailored according to the industry, state, and the total revenue of the organization: Fair, unbiased, and equitable compensation.
Should environmental and social issues, like ESG (environmental, social, and governance) ratings, be used as criteria in deciding where to invest public monies?
Yes
Ensuring oversight, transparency, and accountability for the use of taxpayers' money is an ethical obligation for elected officials who are entrusted with the representation of the populace.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
Instances of corruption, abuse, and exploitation by church leaders are increasingly coming to light. Abuse within churches remains a significant concern. For example, in the United States, there were over 4,200 allegations of sexual abuse reported by Catholic clergy in the year ending June 30, 2020. Furthermore, in 2024, mega-churches in Texas were found to be complicit in corruption and breaches of integrity by their leaders.
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Neutral
In a society that cherishes individual liberty, no one should be compelled to act against their will. Yet, when personal safety or economic security is threatened, understanding the necessary steps to take is vital. One's moral or religious convictions should not serve as grounds for denying service to individuals on the basis of gender, sexual orientation, education level, ethnicity, race, age, or economic background.
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.
Access to healthcare should be a universal right, akin to the necessities of water, food, and shelter. The efficient allocation of taxpayers' money is crucial, and the healthcare industry should prioritize not just the financial gains of shareholders but the provision of equitable and high-quality healthcare services, funded by either private or public entities. Children and young people are unable to pay for their healthcare. The proposition to defund Medicaid or Medicare services is perilous.
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
Examine historical precedents and employ data-driven decision-making. Engage medical scientists and sociologists alongside epidemiologists to guide the decision-making process. Common sense means that there is a social problem that cannot be ignored.
NATIONAL SECURITY
The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.
Strongly Agree
The threat at a local, state, and federal level can no longer be ignored by every elected official.
Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?
The United States maintains a relationship with Israel due to its geopolitical nature and strategic military position in the global landscape, which is pivotal in countering recognized threats.
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Strongly Agree
The U.S. must address the root causes rather than merely managing the symptoms of systemic issues.
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 Disagree
We do not live in an ideal world where all parents are equipped to identify fair educational opportunities for their children within a system fraught with biases. Taxpayer funds should not be used by the state to benefit only a select few.
VALUES
Children are the most vulnerable members of society and must be protected from abuse, including gender ideology, grooming, and bodily mutilation.
Neutral
Parents are the primary decision-makers for their children's well-being and responsible for supporting their children's free will. While it is true that children are vulnerable, it is also a fact that the elderly and people with disabilities are among the most vulnerable groups in society. This includes individuals who have experienced severe accidents or served in the military and may suffer from mental health issues or physical impairments.
Parents should have the right to make decisions for their minor children.
Agree
Parents hold the primary legal authority to make decisions for their children before anyone else becomes involved. However, the child is still a human being with free will and is endowed with rights as recognized by the constitution.
Taxpayer funds should be used to provide gender transition services.
Neutral
Taxpayer funds ought to be allocated for public services. Taxpayer money should be managed with the same diligence an accountant would apply to a client's funds.
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.
Disagree
Marriage is an institution established to fulfill legal obligations, yet the government should not invoke God to sway the convictions and actions of individuals who choose to marry or remain single.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I adhere to the laws upholding human rights and don't require written statutes to act kindly towards others, to feed the hungry, to comfort the imprisoned, to support the bereaved, or to clean the streets others have littered. Furthermore, I am not constrained by the superstitions or dogmas imposed by religious institutions that may exploit vulnerable individuals through fear and condemnation.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Disagree
States should join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact which makes the Electoral College irrelevant.
Neutral
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Racism poses a multifaceted threat to domestic security by fostering violent extremism, undermining trust in institutions, and creating social and economic disparities.
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Strongly Agree
Psychologists, historians, legal experts, and researchers contend that racism is a societal malady fostered by individuals with a limited grasp of humanity's diverse nature. Over time, the struggle for survival and competition for scarce resources have prompted some groups to adopt archaic attitudes of superiority, resulting in discrimination against those who are perceived as different or from various backgrounds.
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
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.
D) Climate change is real and requires urgent policy action. B) Stricter environmental laws and regulations are worth the cost.
What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?
The sun and water.
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?
The government's duty is to represent the people's needs legally, ethically, and consistently, as they entrust elected officials to advocate for them during their terms. It must also ensure that policies and laws implemented in public office are to the benefit and protection of every constituent's well-being. The government operates on behalf of the people, who, through their taxes, enable it to perform its duties.
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
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
I support redirecting funds from police departments to community programs.
Disagree
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
Annual background checks along with tax fees that can generate revenue to offer necessary skills and training for all law enforcement officers, guarantee their salaries, and aid in recruiting highly qualified candidates.
Should teachers be allowed to carry guns at school?
No
Law enforcement agencies should have the authority to safeguard children both on and off school property, as taxpayers contribute billions of dollars for these protective services. The primary focus of teachers should be the education of children.
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