Joe Shellhart
Republican | Texas
Candidate Profile
Leans Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Joe Shellhart
Party
Republican
Election Year
2026
Election
Republican Primary
Race
State Representative 118
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, Masters, 2017-2019
WORK & MILITARY
United State Army, E5, 2004-2012
AFFILIATIONS
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Candidate did not provide
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).
Choose not to answer
Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?
I believe life is precious and should be protected, and that includes both the unborn child and the mother. I am personally opposed to abortion, but I also recognize that there are rare and difficult situations where a mother’s life or serious health is at risk, or where there are severe medical complications. In those cases, I believe decisions should be made carefully, with the guidance of a medical provider.
Human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.
Did not answer
The lives of human embryos created through artificial methods ought to be protected from purposeful destruction.
Did not answer
The Comstock Act, which bans interstate transportation of abortion-inducing drugs, should be enforced.
Did not answer
ECONOMY
What is your position on the minimum wage?
I believe the minimum wage is meant for entry-level work, especially for people just starting out in the workforce, not as a long term way to support a family.
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Did not answer
List your top 3-5 priorities to eliminate government waste.
1. Cut bloated administration and overhead, 2. Strengthen transparency and performance audits, 3. Streamline regulations and paperwork for small businesses, 4. Prioritize outcome over automatic budget increases, 5. Consolidate overlapping programs and services.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
To me, “separation of church and state” does not mean pushing faith out of public life or telling people to leave their beliefs at the door. It means the government should not establish an official religion, force religious beliefs on anyone, or use its power to favor one faith over another. The role of government is to protect religious freedom, not control it.
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
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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.
If someone is sick or injured, they should be able to get care, period. Then we work out how to pay for it in a fair and responsible way. At the same time, I don’t think a one-size-fits-all, government-only system is the answer. I believe we should keep and improve programs like Medicare and Medicaid, offer affordable public options for those who need them, and still allow private healthcare and private insurance for people who want more choice.
The government should keep a database of people with various ongoing medical illnesses to assess the economic burden of treatment.
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NATIONAL SECURITY
The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.
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Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?
Yes, I believe the United States’ relationship with Israel is very important. Israel is one of our closest and most reliable allies in a very unstable part of the world. I believe we should always encourage peace, stability, and the protection of innocent life on all sides. Supporting Israel and wanting long-term peace in the region are not opposites; they go hand in hand.
IMMIGRATION
I support the existence of sanctuary cities to protect undocumented persons.
Disagree
EDUCATION
I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving control back to states and communities.
Did not answer
Foreign governments should be prohibited from funding American education.
Did not answer
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
As a parent and substitute teacher, I believe parents have the first and primary responsibility for their child’s health, education, and overall well-being. Government should respect that role, support it, and provide transparency and options, not replace parents or shut them out of important decisions. My goal is to make sure schools and state agencies see parents as partners, not obstacles, when it comes to doing what’s best for our kids.
Attempts to physically or socially transition a child to the opposite sex constitute child abuse.
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Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.
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I support the expansion of gambling in my state.
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Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I’m a Christian, and my faith shapes a lot of how I see people and my responsibilities in this world. I believe every person has value, that we’re called to serve others, and that we should treat people with respect, even when we disagree. My spiritual beliefs push me toward humility, gratitude, and a servant-leader mindset. Show up, do the work, take care of your family and community, and try to leave things better than you found them. I don’t think government should force any one faith on people, but I do believe our values, honesty, compassion, personal responsibility, and caring for our neighbors, should be reflected in how we lead and how we treat each other.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Did not answer
EQUALITY
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Did not answer
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.
Did not answer
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Man-made climate change is a global threat and requires urgent political action.
Did not answer
What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?
I believe the most reliable way to meet our growing demand for electricity is to lean on strong, dependable baseload sources, especially natural gas and nuclear, while using renewables like wind and solar as a supplement, not a replacement.
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?
Did not answer
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 protect the public, hold people accountable for their actions, and give those who are willing to change a real path to turn their lives around.
Government has a responsibility to protect children from sexual exploitation during online activities.
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Sharia law should not be accepted or incorporated in any form within the legal framework of the United States.
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2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
I support the Second Amendment and believe law-abiding Texans have the right to own and carry firearms. At the same time, I think we have a responsibility to keep guns out of the hands of people who clearly pose a danger to others.
