Josh Cortez

Republican | Texas

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

Josh Cortez


Party

Republican


Election Year

2026


Election

Republican Primary


Race

U.S. Representative 35


Incumbent

No


Links

Josh Cortez websites FacebookXInstagramTruth SocialLinkedInLinkedIn

EDUCATION

Baylor University, Waco, Texas, BA, 2002-2006

Harvard University (Kennedy School), Cambridge, Massachusetts, MPA, 2024-2025

WORK & MILITARY

Republican Deputy Chief of Staff

Founder, COO

Republican Political Director

Educator & Marketing Executive

AFFILIATIONS

Salvation Army, DFW Board Member / Echelon Founder, 2010-2021

YoungLife, Leader, 2010-2015

Campus Crusade for Christ / Athletes in Action, Leader, 2024-2025

Awana, Leader, 2022-2022

POLITICAL OFFICES HELD

Candidate did not provide

POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT

US House of Representatives (Texas - 35)

ENDORSEMENTS*

*These endorsements were received after the deadline and were not considered in the Panel Evaluations and are for additional educational purposes only.
CONSERVATIVE (7)

Young Conservatives of Texas

*Texas Right to Life TRL PAC

Texas Gun Rights PAC

True Texas Project

Latinos for America First

OTHER (1)

Texans for Strong Borders

REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (7)

True Texas Project

2025-2026

Special Operators Association of America

Board Member

2025-2026

SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS

CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (1)

WinRed (2025)

RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (1)

WinRed (2025)


OTHER INFORMATION

Candidate Q&A. Community Impact. 26 Jan 2026.

Candidate questionnaire. San Antonio Report. 8 Jan 2026.

QUESTIONNAIRE

RIGHT TO LIFE

Human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.

Strongly Agree

Human life is a gift from God and must be preserved.

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?

Danger of the life of the mother, and in this scenario it is up to the parents to decide if they would move forward with the procedure.

Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).

Strongly Disagree

The Comstock Act, which bans interstate transportation of abortion-inducing drugs, should be enforced.

Strongly Agree


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.

Strongly Disagree

The government should cut spending in order to reduce the national debt.

Strongly Agree

List your top 3-5 priorities to eliminate government waste.

1. Cut bloated federal bureaucracy by eliminating redundant agencies and enforcing zero-based budgeting, freeing resources for essential services like border security and defense. ? 2. End corporate welfare/subsidies to special interests, redirecting those billions to tax relief for working families. ? 3. Reform entitlements by means-testing programs and curbing fraud, ensuring aid goes to those truly in need. ? 4. Slash foreign aid to non-allies and reduce overseas spending.


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?

"Separation of church and state" means to me that the government cannot establish a religion, but it MUST protect religious liberty, allowing free exercise of faith in the public square without banning prayer, displays of the Ten Commandments, or biblical principles from public life. It does not justify removing God from government or silencing Christians, as Jesus taught rendering to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's, prioritizing faith when they conflict.


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) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary.

The government should keep a database of people with various ongoing medical illnesses to assess the economic burden of treatment.

Strongly Disagree


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) The United States has become too involved in others' policies and should remain focused on issues regarding our own sovereignty unless in imminent danger.

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, the United States' relationship with Israel is important. It serves as a strategic alliance anchored in shared democratic values, intelligence sharing, and mutual defense against common threats like Iran and Islamic terrorism, strengthening U.S. interests in the Middle East.

Islamic terrorism is a threat to the United States' national security.

Strongly Agree


IMMIGRATION

Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?

Only legal immigrants who uphold American values, follow rule of law, and contribute positively should be allowed, through merit-based systems prioritizing skills, family ties to citizens, and thorough vetting. Circumstances include secure borders first, no amnesty for illegals, and refugees only after full security checks to protect our sovereignty.

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


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.

Strongly Agree

Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.

I am a practicing Christian saved by grace. My worldview is rooted in my faith in God, biblical truth, and a conviction that law and justice must reflect moral absolutes grounded in Judeo-Christian tradition.?? I believe the Bible is the authoritative perfect infallible Word of God. I believe there is one true God, existing eternally in the form of three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Each of which possesses equally all the attributes of Deity. Faith and traditional biblical values will guide my every decision, demanding my integrity, courage, and compassion as a servant leader in Congress. I was raised in a deeply Christian family, raised in an environment where faith was more than just a tradition, it was our way of life.


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?

Nuclear energy is the most reliable energy source to meet our growing electricity demand. It provides continuous, highcapacity baseload power unaffected by weather, unlike intermittent renewables, while emitting no carbon and reduces long-term costs.


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


CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY

Government has a responsibility to protect children from sexual exploitation during online activities.

Strongly Agree

The government has a responsibility to protect children but also parents should never cede any of their God given responsibility for their children to the government.


2ND AMENDMENT

What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?

No new restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety. Existing laws already prohibit felons, domestic abusers, and the mentally adjudicated from possessing firearms, and enforcing them rigorously. These address threats without infringing on our Second Amendment rights.

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