Gordon Heslop

Republican | Missouri

Candidate Profile

Leans Conservative

BIOGRAPHY

Name

Gordon Heslop


Party

Republican


Election Year

2026


Election

Republican Primary


Race

U.S. Representative, District 8


Incumbent

No


Links

Gordon Heslop websites

EDUCATION

Mississippi State University, Starkville, DBA, 1984-1986

WORK & MILITARY

East Texas A&M University, Associate Professional Track and Assistant Professor, 2006-2020

AFFILIATIONS

Candidate did not provide

POLITICAL OFFICES HELD

Candidate did not provide

POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT

Congress - Missouri 8th District, 2026-2026

OTHER INFORMATION

Gordon Heslop completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.

QUESTIONNAIRE

RIGHT TO LIFE

Human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.

Strongly Agree

I do not support abortion.

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?

The life of the mother, rape or incest.

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.

Agree


ECONOMY

Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.

Strongly Agree

Very strongly agree.

People who can afford to pay more taxes should do so in order to provide relief for working families.

Disagree

Taxes are based on income, not wealth. I do believe in higher rates for higher incomes.

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

Strongly Agree

The massive amounts of fraud need to be eliminated, and spending needs to be tightened.

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

Eliminate fraud Regular compliance checks Eliminate non-essential spending


RELIGIOUS LIBERTY

Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.

Agree

I agree if the service does not require a personal relationship such as buying clothes or food. But when a personal relationship is required, you should not be forced to accept a client whose views you oppose. For example, a law and order believing lawyer should not be forced to represent an anarchist or a cake decorator be forced to do a special design on a cake with a message he does not agree with such as a Jewish baker being asked to decorate a cake which says "all Jews should be deported".

What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?

This is simply a response, at independence, against the British system in which the English king was not only head of state but also head of the Church of England. The US president is not head of any church - the roles are totally separate. Liberals today are really abusing this rule and trying to deny any church group access to government property.


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.

B. No healthcare system is going to be perfect. I oppose A) because it would be inefficient, with long waits for care, and very subject to fraud as recent events have proven. I believe private insurance is the best system but there are some people who could not obtain private insurance and government should have a plan for these people. D) would not be acceptable as people have paid into Medicare for decades to earn coverage.

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

Strongly Disagree

Too much "Big Brother" with this. People have rights to privacy.


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.

B. I strongly support the US being an active partner in the free world and selectively helping countries gain and maintain freedom. This does not mean I want the US to be fighting all over the world. The world is a better place the more free countries that exist and the US benefits greatly - for example, a free Europe after WWII is now our biggest trading partner. I absolutely oppose isolation - it got us into two world wars in the past and we don't need a third.

The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.

Strongly Agree

Totally agree. You cannot trust communist government.

Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?

Yes, it is important because they are a democracy in a very troubled part of the world and help us oppose radical Islam.

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

Strongly Agree

Totally agree


IMMIGRATION

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

Only those approved by the US government who have skills we need. There should be an exemption for close family - spouse and children only. I oppose chain migration.

I support the existence of sanctuary cities to protect undocumented persons.

Strongly Disagree

They should be illegal and all government funding withdrawn.


EDUCATION

I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving control back to states and communities.

Agree

So long as necessary functions are carried out elsewhere.

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

Totally agree. It should be illegal. It's also 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.

Disagree

They may not alter the definition, but government is able to, and does, make laws with different rules.

Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.

I believe in the Christian faith, and our Christian heritage is not up for debate.


ELECTIONS AND VOTING

People should be able to vote without photo identification.

Strongly Disagree

It's required for so many things and should be for 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

Totally agree.


ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?

The power of the oceans when they can reliably harness it. It could power the world. Recent advances are promising.


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?

Conservative


CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY

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

Strongly Agree

Absolutely. No social media should be allowed until age 16.


2ND AMENDMENT

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

The issue here is social attitudes and behavior, much more than it is gun laws. Our education system needs to focus more on what it means to be a responsible citizen.

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