Michael Pierce
Republican | Illinois
Candidate Profile*
Conservative
*Additional information appears below for educational purposes; however, only data received prior to the candidate deadline was considered during Panel Evaluation.
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Michael Pierce
Party
Republican
Election Year
2026
Election
Republican Primary
Race
U.S. Representative, District 11
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, PhD, 2006-2009
University of Oklahma, Norman, OK, MA, 2002-2004
North Central College, Naperville, IL, BA, 1983-1988
WORK & MILITARY
U.S. Army, LTC, 1992-2012
U.S. Army, MAJ, Brigade S6, Exercise Officer, 16th SB, Q-West , Iraq, 2008-2009
AFFILIATIONS
Association of the United States Army, Life member, Region Vice President, Chapter President , Legislative Committee Contributor, 1999-2025
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Life Member, 2010-2025
The American Legion, Life Member, Post Cdr, Department Girls and Boys State Director, 2020-2025
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
IL 11th U.S. Congressional District, 2025-
Race
ENDORSEMENTS*
*These endorsements were received after the deadline and were not considered in the Panel Evaluations and are for additional educational purposes only.
CONSERVATIVE (1)
*Illinois Family Action
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (1)
Local, County, and District Republican Organizations (2025)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (1)
Jessica Breugelmans (2025)
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.
Strongly Agree
I believe if given enough information and education that most people will choose life. We must encourage our society to hold high standards of ethics. I am Pro Life.
The lives of human embryos created through artificial methods ought to be protected from purposeful destruction.
Strongly Agree
Cheaply discarding or conducting research on human embryos lowers the ethical standards that are the guard rail of a functional, moral society.
Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?
In severe situations where all reasonable alternatives have been discussed with the mother and father. Whenever possible the life of the child should be given equal weight as that of the parent.
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Disagree
The State should not be in the business of terminating human life. It should be working to provide proper care and support for mothers and children born under difficult circumstances. Taxpayers should not be forced to shoulder the burden of abortion.
The Comstock Act, which bans interstate transportation of abortion-inducing drugs, should be enforced.
Strongly Agree
These drugs can cause damage to those who take them. Research has demonstrated that there are many side effects, some life threatening, not to mention the frequent psychological damage that can occurs to a woman when the aborted fetus is expelled from her body, especially if she is without anyone there to counsel her or provide support.
ECONOMY
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
This is the basis of our American economy and system. It has proven to be the most effective and fair way to help people of all backgrounds achieve success and economic stablity
People who can afford to pay more taxes should do so in order to provide relief for working families.
Strongly Disagree
We should not penalize people who are successful by holding them back or pulling them down. We should instead create more opportunities for more people to achieve the American Dream through hard work, good education and trades/vocational skills, and establishing reasonable goals to set themselves on the path for success.
The government should cut spending in order to reduce the national debt.
Strongly Agree
We must reduce spending. The rampant culture of corruption has hurt taken resources from those who need them, and squeezed those who work and who do not have tax shelters to limit the impact of extra taxation for wasteful projects that are too often designed for sweetheart deals for political cronies.
List your top 3-5 priorities to eliminate government waste.
Focus government welfare spending on those who need it most, i.e. disabled, seniors Ensure tax dollars for all types of relief projects are going to Americans End Government subsidization of healthcare insurers done via the ACA (Obamacare) End Government subsidizing alternate forms of energy such as solar, wind, etc. Eliminate bloated NGO spending for domestic and international programs Ensure full accountability and audits completed for military boondoggle projects
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
Americans have rights- they should not be required to forfeit their rights so they can engage in or not engage in their professional lives. The constitution ensures that the government cannot compel people to give up their rights of conscience or beliefs (within legal limits).
What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
The State cannot tell us what church we go to or how to worship. However, that does not mean the absence of the faith based foundation that built our society and which our entire country's heritage comes from. The Staten has a role to wo kalongside those people of faith to ensure a strong, moral, and fit society. It is an indelible part of the social contract that brought Americans together to fight for and achieve our freedom and way of life.
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.
I view the best route as C. This is because when people are seniors and often no longer able to make the kind of money to privately insure themselves, that it is a reasonable to expect a society can support that. Likewise, disabled, Veterans, and people who are temporarily without resources might need support. Other forms of government involvement has only pushed up the costs for everyone overall, and has not truly improved the quality or lowered medical costs
The government should keep a database of people with various ongoing medical illnesses to assess the economic burden of treatment.
Strongly Disagree
The government should not be keeping a database on people's private information. Medical information is not the business of everyone to see. Databases have been exploited and broken into, information sold, and strategies developed to meter out services to legitimately sick people as part of equitable programming. Everyone is different and has different needs. Keeping statistics is important to note severity and impact of illnesses; but a database implies a lot more information being kept.
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.
I am in favor of C. The U.S. has been too involved in other countries to the detriment of our national sovereignty and well being. We should not be isolated, but it is time to start drawing stronger lines of distinction. For example, American aid has been dispensed to easily and used by corrupt organizations for profit, and not advancing our national interest, but rather their own agendas. When U.S. National interests are legitimately threatened or can be advanced, then it make sense.
The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.
Strongly Agree
No question about it. We must not allow the CCP to have a free hand in so many of our domestic affairs, business sourcing, or even international spheres of influence. The U.S. cannot allow it's status as the world's super power to be pre-empted by the CCP, or the consequences will be severe for every country around the world, not only the U.S.
Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?
Yes. Israel is the only true democracy in the Middle East. It plays an important role as a strong, reliable U.S. ally. It has a high number of citizens who are also U.S citizens. They have a special place due to their unique geographic status as well. Israel is also an important counter balance to regional powers such as Iran, but also Turkey from being too strong or monopolize critical geographic and natural resources that impact world trade, security, and peace.
Islamic terrorism is a threat to the United States' national security.
Strongly Agree
Islamic terrorism is part of many aligned vehicles that threaten the U.S. They exploit seams in U.S. society and align with other groups in order to weaken national cohesion and resolve in international and domestic affairs and policies. Local, State, and the Federal government has too often ignored the warning signs of these types of groups, allowing them to spread and gain traction. While individually they cannot take over the country, they can wield undue influence and hinder our freedoms.
IMMIGRATION
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
We should be open to legal immigrants coming to our country if they bring skills, talent, and a desire to be part of our system. There should be allowance for true refugees- those fleeing specific prosecution for beliefs or racial conflicts, for example. However, the U.S. cannot support a policy of bringing economic refugees or allowing anyone in without proper background checks and ensuring that they will follow our laws. Rampant, chain migration should also be reined in.
I support the existence of sanctuary cities to protect undocumented persons.
Strongly Disagree
Sanctuary cities undermine our national, state, and local interests. It leads to overload on an already shaky social net. It brings insecurity to neighborhoods, undermines the rule of law, and hurts Americans who already struggling. It results in higher taxes for those who work, and increased outflow of business. It has had a devastating effect on our nation's cities and facilitates multiple levels of corruption schemes that hurt all taxpayers across the board.
EDUCATION
I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving control back to states and communities.
Strongly Agree
The Dep't of Education has not helped our nation's standing in the world. We should dedicate resources to States and local school boards so they can achieve better educational outcomes for their children. This department has been a drain on national resources that should have gone to helping students achieve better results and not support a bloated bureaucracy.
Foreign governments should be prohibited from funding American education.
Strongly Agree
These governments are not funding our education for free. They are using the American educational system to exploit and gain from American technologies, while at the same time undermine our way of life through supporting the spread of lies, propaganda and socialism. They have been behind the high number of protests against our culture and government ranging from anti-Israel/pro-palestine movements to Antifa and BLM. They infiltrate our education system with educators and students alike.
VALUES
Attempts to physically or socially transition a child to the opposite sex constitute child abuse.
Strongly Agree
There are two genders- male and female. Attempts to exploit mental illness and gender dysphoria to further social movement agendas has severely disrupted many of the norms in our society. We must work to ensure all children get the help they need and thy societal shaping factors do not get the upper hand in this battle for the hearts and minds of our young people. This has been a cynical and sinister movement that exploits those who are mentally vulnerable at a challenging age.
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
This is a biblically ordained rite. The very people who push separation of all things religious form the State are the very ones who push taking a church and faith based, institution that is designed to facilitate a stable strong society, and then use it to turn society upside down. If they they wish to achieve a legal status their are other ways. Calling it marriage shows is a fraudulent attempt at cloaking themselves with the very legitimacy that they reject.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a Christian man of faith. I believe in the word of God and to answer the call and to follow the commands of Jesus to preach the Gospel and be willing to lay down ones life for his friends. Jesus preached and lived as a man and showed us the way to have life everlasting. There is no promise that things will be easy in this world. We are called to be in the world, but not of the world. I live and follow this everyday. I have lived a life of service and view running for office as a direct answer to God's call in my life to make a difference and to stand upon his word. I speak for those who cannot speak in the womb, for those who seek to live a just life, and for those who have been pushed out; but who can be redeemed through faith.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
Everyone who votes should have an ID and show it when they go to vote. It is ridiculous to allow our standards to be set so low, so as to enable fraud and disenfranchisement of the honest people whose rights are being taken away by those who cheat and steal elections.
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
It is ridiculous to allow males who have clearly gone through male puberty to compete with girls. There are some rare cases where this may not apply and this must be taken on a case by case basis, as it is not the fault of the child. The rare exception has been turned in to a farcical mockery in the name of fairness that has actually taken away the rights of women and girls to appropriate spaces. As the father of daughters and granddaughters I will fight for their rights and all women.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?
Coal and natural gas are the most reliable forms of energy in America. Illinois sits on vast amounts of coal and we should use it to dig the state out of some of its biggest financial challenges. We should stop importing coal from other states.
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?
Very Conservative
I am very conservative in my views, but believe how one expresses them and how we interact with people is the key to persuading them to join our vision. It is possible to stand for something without being abrasive or unkind. Illinois needs a person who can communicate these views with an eye towards getting our state to move forward. All people here needs jobs, safety, security, lower costs of living, lower taxes, and a future. We can achieve those things along with a principled stand.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Government has a responsibility to protect children from sexual exploitation during online activities.
Strongly Agree
No question about it. The government has been far too lax in this area and has allowed other groups to subtly and other times blatantly infiltrate at even the most innocent of times and places - on the internet and elsewhere.
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
The government should have no say in how law abiding citizens get, hold, or use their guns. It is a constitutional right. Arresting criminals who use them unlawfully is of course the remedy for when people commit crimes. Taking away guns will not stop crime. It only creates vulnerable zones that criminals exploit. Government intrusion and gun regulation and management is the path to real authoritarianism. We must ensure all Americans understand why they have gun rights.
