Harold J. Visser
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
Harold J. Visser
Party
Republican
Election Year
2026
Election
Republican Primary
Race
General Assembly, District 118
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Carbondale, B.S. Business Administration, 2002-2006
WORK & MILITARY
Candidate did not provide
AFFILIATIONS
Cornerstone Reformed Church, Deacon, 2003-2025
Jackson Co Central Commitee, precinct committee person, 2023-2025
Christian apologetics club SIUC, Club President, 2004-2006
West Chicago High School Cross Country, Team Captain, MVP, 2001-2001
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Carbondale Mayor, 2022-2022
Jackson Co Board district 3, 2024-2024
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
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Agree
Abortion is murder. We should not use taxpayer funds to pay for it.
Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?
Only in very rare cases, where the growth of the baby would not be viable, such as ectopic, where medical intervention would be necessary to save the mother's life. These cases are rare and should be handled with great wisdom with an eye towards always trying to preserve life.
Human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.
Strongly Agree
Unborn babies are people and should have equal protections under the law.
The lives of human embryos created through artificial methods ought to be protected from purposeful destruction.
Strongly Agree
The Comstock Act, which bans interstate transportation of abortion-inducing drugs, should be enforced.
Strongly Agree
ECONOMY
What is your position on the minimum wage?
There should not be a minimum wage. Arbitrary wage increases do not make life more affordable, wages should be negotiated between employers and workers. Market forces are very good at determining what pay should be for specific work.
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
List your top 3-5 priorities to eliminate government waste.
Reduce Taxes, sales, property and income. Focus government spending on what is essential to good societal order, such as law enforcement, courts and limited regulations. Make the budget process an open one instead of allowing a select few individuals to negotiate the state budget behind closed doors.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
Separation of Church and State puts the onus on government to not dictate how people are able to exercise their religious freedoms.
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
People should have freedom of association. That includes financial transactions.
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 think we need to have some sort of safety net for the most vulnerable in our society but we must do a better job of policing these benefits and we must focus on eliminating fraud.
The government should keep a database of people with various ongoing medical illnesses to assess the economic burden of treatment.
Strongly Disagree
When we start looking at people in purely economic terms, we inevitably devalue human life. Such practices would open the floodgates to euthanasia and put our nation on a dark and dangerous path.
NATIONAL SECURITY
The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.
Strongly Agree
They are actively working to undermine and destroy our country. We must be aware of what they are trying to do and work to stop them.
Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?
I believe our relationship with Israel is important. The US needs a strong partner in the Middle East and Israel has historically been that partner.
IMMIGRATION
I support the existence of sanctuary cities to protect undocumented persons.
Strongly Disagree
We have a right to exist as a sovereign nation. If we no longer have borders - we cease to exist as a country. Our government has a duty to secure our borders and enforce our immigration laws.
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
Government should recognize and support the fundamental right and essential duty of parents to direct their child's health and educational well-being.
Strongly Agree
I strongly support parental rights.
Attempts to physically or socially transition a child to the opposite sex constitute child abuse.
Strongly Agree
We must protect kids from chemical castration and other ghastly forms of child abuse.
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
Traditional marriage is the foundation of our society.
I support the expansion of gambling in my state.
Neutral
Local mom and pop businesses have come to depend on the revenue from video gaming. While I don't support gambling expansion, I will support my local businesses.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a Christian. I currently serve as a deacon in my church. My faith is at the center of everything I do.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
We have photo IDs for virtually everything. We need this basic level of security in voting to prevent fraud and abuse.
EQUALITY
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Strongly Disagree
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
As a father of daughters - I strongly oppose allowing biological males into female spaces.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Man-made climate change is a global threat and requires urgent political action.
Strongly Disagree
What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?
We have the cleanest coal burning plant in the country in Illinois. We need to be expanding that technology. Instead, our leaders in the name of pseudo science are closing it down. We must reverse these policies.
ABOUT YOU
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
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.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
What should be the goal of the criminal justice system?
The goal of the criminal justice system should be to punish wrong doers and protect the innocent.
Government has a responsibility to protect children from sexual exploitation during online activities.
Strongly Agree
Sharia law should not be accepted or incorporated in any form within the legal framework of the United States.
Strongly Agree
We are not a Muslim country. We should not allow Sharia law to be incorporated in any part of the United States.
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
The Second Amendment is a right. I am OK with denying these rights to certain violent felons but there should not be qualifications placed on a right guaranteed by our Constitution.
