
Josh Tolbert
Republican | Georgia
Candidate Profile*
Conservative (Conditional)
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Josh Tolbert
Party
Republican
Election Year
2025
Election
Special General SD 35
Race
State Senate, District 35
Incumbent
No
EDUCATION
University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, PhD - Mechanical Engineering, 2015
University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, MS - Mechanical Engineering, 2012
University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, MS - Engineering Science & Mech, 2012
University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, BS - Mechanical Engineering, 2009
WORK & MILITARY
Candidate did not provide
AFFILIATIONS
The Square Church, Member, 10
UP Tutoring, Founder, 9
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Candidate did not provide
QUESTIONNAIRE*
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?
I do not believe elective abortion should be allowed. Every life has value and deserves protection. While cases such as rape or incest are tragic and make up less than 1% of elective abortions, I do not support them as justification. However, from a practical policy standpoint, I would accept very limited exceptions for rape or incest only if it meant ending all other elective abortions.
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
Chemical abortion drugs should meet strict medical safety standards, including in-person consultations with a licensed physician and mandatory follow-up care. These drugs carry significant physical and emotional risks, and women deserve full medical oversight and informed consent. Reporting requirements are essential to gather accurate data on complications and outcomes to protect women’s health and ensure accountability.
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Agree
Taxpayer dollars should never fund organizations that perform or promote abortions. Public funds should be directed toward supporting life—helping mothers, fathers, and families through adoption services, prenatal care, and other life-affirming resources. Funding abortion providers, even indirectly through grants like Title X, forces taxpayers to subsidize a practice many Americans fundamentally oppose on moral and ethical grounds.
I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Strongly Disagree
Life is a sacred gift from God, and it is not the government’s role to sanction taking it—whether through abortion or assisted suicide. Legalizing euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide devalues human life and risks pressuring the elderly, disabled, or vulnerable to end their lives prematurely. Our focus should be on compassionate care, pain management, and emotional support—not ending life.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
The government has no authority to close churches based on content of belief or practice. The First Amendment protects the free exercise of religion absolutely. Only in rare, temporary cases of imminent structural danger—like a condemned building—could closure be justified, never for political or public health reasons.
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
No one should be forced by the government to act against their moral or religious convictions. Freedom of conscience is a cornerstone of American liberty. Individuals and business owners must have the right to live out their faith in the public square without fear of punishment or coercion from the state.
NATIONAL SECURITY
The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.
Strongly Agree
The Chinese Communist Party represents one of the greatest strategic threats to the United States—militarily, economically, and technologically. Through cyberattacks, intellectual property theft, and manipulation of global markets, the CCP undermines American sovereignty and security. The U.S. must strengthen domestic manufacturing, energy independence, and defense to counter this threat.
Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?
es. The United States should stand firmly in support of Israel as our ally and the only true democracy in the Middle East. Our support should focus on shared values—freedom, security, and the right to self-defense—without unnecessary U.S. entanglement in regional conflicts. We can stand with Israel without being drawn into every fight.
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 but leaning towards D. Medicaid and Medicare should remain available to protect our most vulnerable citizens and seniors, while private cost sharing plans should take their place where possible, but government should not expand further into healthcare. Free-market competition, price transparency, and innovation—not more bureaucracy—are the best ways to lower costs and improve quality of care. Medicaid and Medicare should have strict work requirements for those insured, where physically able.
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
Government, schools, and employers should not mandate vaccinations. However, for extremely contagious diseases with proven vaccine safety and efficacy, narrowly tailored requirements can be considered with exemptions for medical or religious reasons
ECONOMY
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
Free enterprise and private property rights are the foundation of a strong and prosperous economy. When individuals are free to innovate, invest, and build without excessive government interference, everyone benefits. Property ownership encourages responsibility, hard work, and stewardship—values that have made America the most productive and opportunity-rich nation in history.
What is your position on the minimum wage?
I oppose government-mandated increases to the minimum wage. Wages should be determined by the free market, not politics. Artificially raising it often reduces jobs and hours for workers. Growth and skills training create better pay naturally.
Should environmental and social issues, like ESG (environmental, social, and governance) ratings, be used as criteria in deciding where to invest public monies?
No
Public funds should be invested based on financial merit and expected return—not political or social agendas. ESG investing prioritizes ideology over performance, often penalizing industries that provide jobs and affordable energy. The focus should be on fiscal responsibility and maximizing taxpayer value, not advancing partisan goals through investment policy.
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Strongly Agree
The U.S. must secure the southern border to protect national security, uphold the rule of law, and stop the flow of drugs, human trafficking, and illegal crossings. A secure border is not anti-immigration—it’s pro-law and pro-safety. We should welcome legal immigrants while enforcing strong physical barriers, technology, and staffing to end the chaos at the border.
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
Parents—not the government—should decide where and how their children are educated. Education funding should follow the student, whether public, private, charter, or homeschool. However, it should be considered for some of the local portion of property taxes (about 45% of total) should remain with the local school district, while state and federal funds should follow the child to ensure both parental choice and local school stability.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
I support redirecting funds from police departments to community programs.
Strongly Disagree
Police departments must be properly funded to keep communities safe. While community programs can play a valuable supporting role, public safety depends on well-trained, well-equipped officers. We should invest in law enforcement—not weaken it—so officers can protect and serve effectively.
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
I fully support the Second Amendment and oppose new restrictions on law-abiding citizens. Existing laws should be enforced to keep guns out of the hands of violent criminals and the mentally ill. I would, however, support requiring a basic firearms safety course before purchasing or carrying a gun in public—similar to driver’s education—so that responsible ownership and public safety go hand in hand.
Should teachers be allowed to carry guns at school?
Yes
Teachers who choose to carry and undergo proper background checks and firearms training should be allowed to do so. Armed and trained staff can act as a last line of defense in protecting students during an active threat. This policy should be voluntary, highly regulated, and accompanied by rigorous safety and training standards.
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?
I believe in a small but strong government whose primary role is to serve the people. It should provide only essential services that the private sector cannot—such as defense, policing, infrastructure, and a fair judicial system. Government exists to protect individual rights and liberties, ensuring people are free to live, work, and worship as they choose, so long as they don’t infringe on others’ freedoms. It should be funded by limited taxes, only enough to meet those basic responsibilities.
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
I believe in limited government, personal responsibility, free markets, and the protection of individual liberties. My views are grounded in faith, family, and the Constitution. I believe strong moral values and personal freedom—not government control—are what make America strong and prosperous.
VALUES
Children are the most vulnerable members of society and must be protected from abuse, including gender ideology, grooming, and bodily mutilation.
Strongly Agree
Children are among the most vulnerable members of society and deserve protection from all forms of abuse—physical, psychological, and ideological. Schools and institutions must not promote harmful gender ideology or allow irreversible medical procedures on minors. Protecting children means safeguarding their innocence, health, and right to grow up without political or social agendas imposed on them.
Parents should have the right to make decisions for their minor children.
Strongly Agree
Parents have the primary responsibility and authority to make decisions for their children—not the government, schools, or outside organizations. From healthcare to education, parents know what’s best for their family. Government’s role is to support and protect parental rights, not to replace them.
Taxpayer funds should be used to provide gender transition services.
Strongly Disagree
Taxpayer dollars should never be used to fund gender transition procedures. These are deeply personal and controversial medical decisions that should not be financed by the public. Government funds should focus on essential services, not on experimental or elective procedures.
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.
Agree
Marriage is a sacred, God-ordained union between one man and one woman. That belief is deeply rooted in faith and tradition. However, I also recognize that the U.S. Constitution limits the federal government’s authority in religious matters. Defining marriage based on religious principles should be left to individuals, faith communities, and states—not imposed by the federal government.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a Christian, and my faith is the foundation for how I live, lead, and serve others. I believe that every person is created in the image of God and has inherent worth and purpose. My values—faith, family, hard work, and personal responsibility—flow from that belief. I strive to live according to biblical principles such as honesty, humility, compassion, and justice. Faith also guides my view of government and community. I believe our rights come from God, not man, and that we are called to steward those freedoms wisely. I seek to lead in a way that honors God, serves others, and strengthens families and communities, while always respecting the freedom of others to believe differently.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
Voting is one of our most important rights, and protecting that right requires secure elections. Requiring a photo ID is a common-sense safeguard that ensures each vote cast is legitimate and that every citizen’s voice is protected. We need to make voting easy and cheating impossible—photo ID helps achieve both.
States should join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact which makes the Electoral College irrelevant.
Disagree
I do not support states joining the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, which would effectively make the Electoral College irrelevant. I believe in the principle of states’ rights and the federal structure under which our nation was founded. The current system allows states to maintain sovereignty in their electoral processes and values regional diversity in the presidential election.
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Racism, like any form of hatred or division, can threaten domestic stability when it’s used to divide Americans. However, I believe the greater threat comes from those who exploit racial tension for political or ideological gain. America is not a racist nation—we are a nation striving toward unity, equality, and opportunity for all. Our focus should be on strengthening what unites us, not inflaming what divides us.
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Strongly Disagree
I reject the idea that the United States is fundamentally racist. Our nation was founded on the principle that all people are created equal, and while we’ve had struggles in our history, we have made tremendous progress. Critical Race Theory divides people by race rather than uniting them as Americans. We should teach history honestly but focus on shared values, equal opportunity, and the belief that anyone can succeed through hard work and character.
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
Biological males should not compete in women’s sports or occupy spaces reserved for biological females. This is a matter of fairness, safety, and privacy. Protecting women’s opportunities and spaces is not discrimination—it’s common sense. Women fought hard for equal rights in sports and society, and those gains should not be erased by policies that ignore biological reality.
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 - Stricter environmental laws often destroy jobs, raise costs, and weaken U.S. energy independence. We should pursue responsible stewardship of natural resources, but through innovation and free-market solutions—not burdensome regulations. America should lead in energy production, using all sources—oil, gas, nuclear, and renewables—to remain strong, independent, and prosperous.
What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?
Nuclear power is the most reliable long-term energy source but is overregulated and costly. While that’s being fixed, natural gas remains the most dependable, affordable base-load source to meet America’s growing electricity demand.
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